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







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1247

    Supporting the goals and ideals of ``American Eagle Day'', and 
 celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, 
               the national symbol of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2008

Mr. David Davis of Tennessee submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and ideals of ``American Eagle Day'', and 
 celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, 
               the national symbol of the United States.

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 is likely to officially delist the bald 
        eagle from both the endangered species and threatened species lists 
        under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, with a final decision expected 
        no later than June 29, 2007;
Whereas if delisted under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, bald eagles should 
        be provided strong protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection 
        Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty 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.
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