[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 396 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 396
Designating the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as ``National
Wildlife Refuge Week''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 4, 2023
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Reed, Mr. Carper, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Manchin, Mr. King, and Mr.
Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
November 6, 2023
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating 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 the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered by the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service and 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 encompasses more than 850,000,000
acres of unique habitats and ecosystems, including tropical and boreal
forests, wetlands, deserts, grasslands, arctic tundras, remote islands,
and marine areas, and spans 12 time zones from the United States Virgin
Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges support approximately 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
species and endangered species;
Whereas 65 national wildlife refuges were established to conserve species
considered to be threatened or endangered under Federal standards,
including 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 national wildlife refuges protect and conserve climate-resilient
habitats that support biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions;
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 many national wildlife refuges are managed to reduce wildfire risk by
thinning overgrown forests and removing invasive species;
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 co-stewardship of our
shared natural resources, including National Wildlife Refuge System
lands and waters;
Whereas important cultural and historic resources are protected on national
wildlife refuges, including--
(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 the father of Harriet Tubman 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, including
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, 5-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 sustainable hunting and
fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and
interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives nearly 68,000,000 annual
visits that--
(1) generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies; and
(2) support 41,000 jobs;
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, for every dollar appropriated to the National Wildlife Refuge System,
an average of approximately 5 dollars is returned to local economies;
Whereas 436 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs
and 378 units have fishing programs that support, respectively, more
than 2,600,000 hunting visits and more than 8,600,000 fishing visits
annually;
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 approximately 180 national wildlife
refuge ``Friends'' organizations contribute approximately 818,000
volunteer hours annually, the equivalent of 400 full-time employees, and
provide an important link between national wildlife refuges and 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, national 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 Senate 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 Senate--
(1) designates the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as
``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) identifies the significance of national wildlife
refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation,
photography, and interpretation, as well as environmental
education;
(6) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role
in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United
States for future generations;
(7) recognizes the important work of urban national
wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and ethnically diverse
urban communities that were long excluded, including work--
(A) to foster strong new conservation coalitions;
(B) to provide education and employment
opportunities to youth;
(C) to improve communities;
(D) to build trust in government; and
(E) to connect individuals with nature;
(8) recognizes the commitment of the National Wildlife
Refuge System to engagement, relationships, knowledge-sharing,
and co-stewardship of 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 Senate for wildlife
conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
(11) expresses the intent of the Senate--
(A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
(B) to support the management of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service of the National Wildlife
Refuge System for current and future generations.
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