[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 767 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 767
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October
8, 2023, as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2023
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Mrs. Gonzalez-
Colon, Mr. Vasquez, and Ms. Stansbury) submitted the following
resolution
October 25, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October
8, 2023, as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service administers the National
Wildlife Refuge System to conserve, manage, and, where appropriate,
restore fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within
the United States for the benefit of current and future generations;
Whereas in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national
wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas in 2023, the National Wildlife Refuge System has grown to include 568
national wildlife refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and 5 marine
national monuments, with units located in every State and territory of
the United States;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System contains many different kinds of
ecosystems, including tropical and boreal forests, wetlands, deserts,
grasslands, arctic tundra, remote islands, and marine areas, and spans
12 time zones from the United States Virgin Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges support nearly 800 species of birds, 220
species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 1,100
species of fish;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened
and endangered species;
Whereas 65 national wildlife refuges were established to conserve federally
threatened or endangered species such as the American crocodile,
California condor, Devil's Hole pupfish, and Antioch Dunes evening-
primrose;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal lands that support
waterfowl habitat;
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund has generated more
than $2,000,000,000 and enabled the conservation of more than 6,300,000
acres of habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in the
National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas more than 180 national wildlife refuges conserve marine, coastal, and
Great Lakes habitats, helping to protect communities by reducing the
risk of storm-surge flooding, especially in low-lying floodplain and
coastal areas;
Whereas meaningful engagement and proactive collaboration with Tribes, Alaska
Native corporations, Alaska Native organizations, and the Native
Hawaiian community is an integral aspect of the costewardship of shared
natural resources, including National Wildlife Refuge System lands and
waters;
Whereas important cultural and historic resources are protected on national
wildlife refuges, such as--
(1) archaeological sites detailing the lives of Native Americans and
early colonists at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in
Virginia;
(2) World War II sites in the Pacific, from Attu in Alaska to Midway
Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands; and
(3) the remains of the home of Harriet Tubman's father at Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland;
Whereas Tribal consultation is a cornerstone of historic preservation on
national wildlife refuges where cultural resources and traditional
sacred spaces are important to Native American Tribes, such as
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, where the Nuwuvi people
finalized a plan with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to
respect and showcase ancient petroglyphs;
Whereas national wildlife refuges use a range of management tools, including
fire management, invasive species control, water management, wildlife
health assessments, inventory and monitoring species, facility condition
assessments, five-year infrastructure project plans, and other tools to
conserve habitat and ensure opportunities for public access and
recreation;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism
destinations in communities across the United States and offer a variety
of recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives nearly 68,000,000 annual
visits, which generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies and
support 41,000 jobs;
Whereas 436 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs
and 378 units have fishing programs that, respectively, support more
than 2,600,000 hunting visits and more than 8,600,000 fishing visits
annually;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System hosts more than 42,000,000 annual
birding and wildlife observation visits;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway
communities;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children
to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;
Whereas more than 15,000 volunteers and almost 180 national wildlife refuge
``Friends'' organizations contribute approximately 818,000 volunteer
hours annually, as many hours as 400 full-time employees, and provide an
important link to local communities;
Whereas 101 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System are within 25 miles of
cities and suburbs where 80 percent of individuals in the United States
live;
Whereas, through the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program, the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service works to dismantle barriers that have blocked
underserved communities from full and equal participation in outdoor
recreation and wildlife conservation;
Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program fosters strong new conservation
coalitions, educates and employs youth, engages communities, builds
trust in government, and connects individuals with nature;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for people from all
backgrounds to explore, connect with, and preserve the natural heritage
of the United States;
Whereas, since 1995, natural wildlife refuges across the United States have held
festivals, educational programs, guided tours, and other events to
celebrate ``National Wildlife Refuge Week'' during the second full week
of October;
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the week
beginning on October 8, 2023, as National Wildlife Refuge Week; and
Whereas the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week by the House of
Representatives would recognize more than a century of conservation in
the United States, raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and
the National Wildlife Refuge System, and celebrate the myriad
recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this network
of protected lands: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National Wildlife Refuge
Week'';
(2) encourages the observance of National Wildlife Refuge
Week with appropriate events and activities;
(3) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges
to wildlife conservation, the protection of imperiled species
and ecosystems, and wildlife-dependent recreational uses;
(4) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife
refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution
to local economies across the United States;
(5) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role
in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United
States for future generations;
(6) identifies the significance of national wildlife
refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation,
photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
(7) recognizes the important work of urban national
wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and ethnically diverse
urban communities that were long excluded, including work to--
(A) foster strong new conservation coalitions;
(B) provide education and employment opportunities
to youth;
(C) improve communities;
(D) build trust in government; and
(E) connect individuals with nature;
(8) recognizes the National Wildlife Refuge System's
ongoing commitment to engagement, relationships, knowledge-
sharing, and costewardship of the National Wildlife Refuge
System lands and waters with Tribes, Alaska Native
corporations, Alaska Native organizations, and the Native
Hawaiian community;
(9) acknowledges the role of national wildlife refuges in
conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habitat under the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.);
(10) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives
for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge
System; and
(11) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives--
(A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
(B) to support the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service's management of the National Wildlife Refuge
System for the benefit of current and future
generations.
<all>