[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 801 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 801
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Hanalei
National Wildlife Refuge and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge in
the State of Hawaii.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 28, 2022
Ms. Hirono (for herself and Mr. Schatz) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
November 17, 2022
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Hanalei
National Wildlife Refuge and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge in
the State of Hawaii.
Whereas, on October 17, 1972, Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge was
established as mitigation for the construction of the Honolulu
International Airport Reef Runway;
Whereas effective management of Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge has
necessitated partnerships between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the State of Hawaii, and
several private conservation organizations, as well as the general
public;
Whereas Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge protects some of the last
remaining wetlands on Oahu and is home to threatened and endangered
wildlife and plants;
Whereas the Honouliuli and Waiawa units of Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
are managed under a cooperative agreement with the Navy to provide
wetland habitat for 4 endangered waterbirds: the aeo (Hawaiian stilt),
the alae keokeo (Hawaiian coot), the alae ula (Hawaiian moorhen), and
the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck);
Whereas the Honouliuli unit of Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge has served
as a conservation site for the endangered endemic Ko oloa ula shrub
(Abutilon menziesii) since its translocation there in 2002 and 2003;
Whereas the Kalaeloa unit of Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge was
established in 2001 to protect and enhance the habitat for 2 endangered
plants, the akoko and the ewa hinahina, and is home to the largest and
second largest populations of these plants, respectively;
Whereas all 3 units of Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge are closed to the
general public to protect endangered wildlife but provide educational
and volunteer opportunities during the nonbreeding season of the aeo;
Whereas the Honouliuli unit of Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge serves as
the site of the wetlands education program conducted by the Hawaii
Nature Center, bringing more than 4,000 third-grade students to the
Honouliuli unit during the fall semester to learn about the recovery of
Hawaii's waterbirds and the value of wetlands;
Whereas Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge was established under the Endangered
Species Conservation Act of 1969 (Public Law 89-669; 80 Stat. 926) on
November 30, 1972, to aid in the recovery of threatened and endangered
species, including the aeo, the alae keokeo, the alae ula, the koloa
maoli, and the nene (Hawaiian goose);
Whereas Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge consists of 917 acres in Hanalei Valley
on the north shore of Kauai island and includes a portion of the Hanalei
River, a designated American Heritage River;
Whereas Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge provides an important habitat for a
diverse array of fish, wildlife, and plants, including 27 species of
migratory waterfowl, 23 species of migratory shorebirds, and all 5
species of endemic Hawaiian oopu (amphidromous gobies);
Whereas kalo farming has occurred for several hundred years in Hanalei Valley
and remains an ecologically, culturally, and economically important
practice on Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge;
Whereas kalo farming in the greater Hanalei watershed, including Hanalei
National Wildlife Refuge, provides shallow-water habitat for threatened
and endangered waterbirds and generates at least 40 percent of all kalo
grown in the State of Hawaii; and
Whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening the new Hanalei Viewpoint
to provide residents and visitors with increased opportunities to learn
about and connect with the natural and cultural history of Hanalei
Valley and the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) congratulates and celebrates Pearl Harbor National
Wildlife Refuge and Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on the
50th anniversary of their establishment;
(2) acknowledges the range of natural and cultural wonders
that make up the other national wildlife refuges of the State
of Hawaii, including--
(A) Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge;
(B) Huleia National Wildlife Refuge;
(C) Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge;
(D) James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge;
(E) Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge;
(F) Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge;
(G) Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge; and
(H) Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge; and
(3) encourages the people of Hawaii and of the United
States to learn about, support, and appreciate those national
wildlife refuges, which are national treasures.
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