[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1247 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         June 18, 2008.
Whereas the bald eagle was designated as the national emblem of the United 
        States on June 20, 1782, by our country's Founding Fathers at the Second 
        Continental Congress;
Whereas the bald eagle is the central image used in the Great Seal of the United 
        States and the seals of the President and Vice President;
Whereas the image of the bald eagle is displayed in the official seal of many 
        branches and departments of the Federal Government, including--

    (1) Congress;

    (2) the Supreme Court;

    (3) the Department of Defense;

    (4) the Department of the Treasury;

    (5) the Department of Justice;

    (6) the Department of State;

    (7) the Department of Commerce;

    (8) the Department of Homeland Security;

    (9) the Department of Veterans Affairs;

    (10) the Department of Labor;

    (11) the Department of Health and Human Services;

    (12) the Department of Energy;

    (13) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;

    (14) the Central Intelligence Agency; and

    (15) the United States Postal Service;

Whereas the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of the American spirit of freedom 
        and democracy;
Whereas the image, meaning, and symbolism of the bald eagle have played a 
        significant role in American art, music, history, literature, 
        architecture, and culture since the founding of our Nation;
Whereas the bald eagle is featured prominently on United States stamps, 
        currency, and coinage;
Whereas the habitat of bald eagles exists only in North America;
Whereas by 1963, the number of nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 
        States had dropped to about 417;
Whereas the bald eagle was first listed as an endangered species in 1967 under 
        the Endangered Species Preservation Act, the Federal law that preceded 
        the Endangered Species Act of 1973;
Whereas caring and concerned citizens of the United States in the private and 
        public sectors banded together to save, and help ensure the protection 
        of, bald eagles;
Whereas in 1995, as a result of the efforts of those caring and concerned 
        citizens, bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list and 
        upgraded to the less imperiled threatened species status under the 
        Endangered Species Act of 1973;
Whereas by 2006, the number of bald eagles in the lower 48 States had increased 
        to approximately 7,000 to 8,000 nesting pairs;
Whereas the Secretary of the Interior removed the bald eagle from the Federal 
        list of threatened species effective August 8, 2007;
Whereas the bald eagle remains subject to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and on 
        May 28, 2008, the Secretary of the Interior issued regulations providing 
        continued protection under the Act popularly known as the Bald and 
        Golden Eagle Protection Act;
Whereas bald eagles would have been permanently extinct if not for vigilant 
        conservation efforts of concerned citizens and strict protection laws;
Whereas the dramatic recovery of the bald eagle population is an endangered 
        species success story and an inspirational example for other wildlife 
        and natural resource conservation efforts around the world;
Whereas the initial recovery of the bald eagle population was accomplished by 
        the concerted efforts of numerous government agencies, corporations, 
        organizations, and individuals; and
Whereas the sustained recovery of the bald eagle populations will require the 
        continuation of recovery, management, education, and public awareness 
        programs, to ensure that the populations and habitat of bald eagles will 
        remain healthy and secure for future generations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``American Eagle Day''; and
            (2) encourages--
                    (A) educational entities, organizations, businesses, 
                conservation groups, and government agencies with a shared 
                interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate on 
                education information for use in schools; and
                    (B) the people of the United States to observe American 
                Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies and other activities.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.