[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 644 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 644

Designating the week beginning October 10, 2010, as ``National Wildlife 
                             Refuge Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2010

  Mr. Kaufman (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
 Casey, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Lincoln, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Burris, Mr. Udall 
of Colorado, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Shaheen, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Bennet, Mr. Feingold, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Corker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Udall of 
 New Mexico, Mr. Pryor, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Inouye, and 
Mr. Levin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week beginning October 10, 2010, as ``National Wildlife 
                             Refuge Week''.

Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national 
        wildlife refuge on Florida's Pelican Island;
Whereas, in 2010, the National Wildlife Refuge System is the premier system of 
        lands and waters to conserve wildlife in the world, and has grown to 
        more than 150 million acres, 552 national wildlife refuges, and 38 
        wetland management districts in every State and territory of the United 
        States;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism 
        destinations in communities across the Nation, and these protected lands 
        offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including 6 wildlife-
        dependent uses that the National Wildlife Refuge System manages: 
        hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental 
        education, and interpretation;
Whereas hunting is permitted on more than 320 national wildlife refuges and 
        fishing is permitted on 272 national wildlife refuges, welcoming more 
        than 2,500,000 hunters and more than 7,000,000 anglers;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway 
        communities;
Whereas, for every $1 appropriated, national wildlife refuges generate $4 in 
        economic activity;
Whereas approximately 41,000,000 people visit national wildlife refuges every 
        year, generating nearly $1,700,000,000 and 27,000 jobs in local 
        economies;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses every kind of ecosystem 
        in the United States, including temperate, tropical, and boreal forests, 
        wetlands, deserts, grasslands, arctic tundras, and remote islands, and 
        spans 12 time zones from the Virgin Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are home to more than 700 species of birds, 
        220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more 
        than 1,000 species of fish;
Whereas 59 refuges were established specifically to protect imperiled species 
        and of the more than 1,200 federally listed threatened and endangered 
        species in the United States, 280 species are found on units of the 
        National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger 
        landscapes and resources for other agencies of the Federal Government 
        and State governments, private landowners, and organizations in their 
        efforts to secure the wildlife heritage of the United States;
Whereas 39,000 volunteers and more than 220 national wildlife refuge ``Friends'' 
        organizations contribute nearly 1,400,000 hours annually, the equivalent 
        of 665 full-time employees, and provide an important link with local 
        communities;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children 
        to connect with nature and discover the natural world;
Whereas, because there are national wildlife refuges located in several urban 
        and suburban areas and 1 refuge located within an hour's drive of every 
        metropolitan area in the United States, national wildlife refuges 
        employ, educate, and engage young people from all backgrounds in 
        exploring, connecting with, and preserving the natural heritage of the 
        Nation;
Whereas, since 1995, refuges across the Nation 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 week beginning on October 10, 2010, has been designated as 
        ``National Wildlife Refuge Week'' by the United States Fish and Wildlife 
        Service;
Whereas, in 2010, the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week would 
        recognize more than a century of conservation in the United States and 
        would serve to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and the 
        National Wildlife Refuge System and to celebrate the myriad recreational 
        opportunities available to enjoy this network of protected lands: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week beginning on October 10, 2010, as 
        ``National Wildlife Refuge Week'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Wildlife 
        Refuge Week;
            (3) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife 
        refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution 
        to local economies across the United States;
            (4) pronounces that national wildlife refuges play a vital 
        role in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United 
        States for future generations;
            (5) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges 
        to wildlife conservation and the protection of imperiled 
        species and ecosystems;
            (6) applauds the work of refuge ``Friends'' groups, 
        national and community organizations, and public partners that 
        promote awareness, compatible use, protection, and restoration 
        of national wildlife refuges;
            (7) reaffirms the support of the Senate for wildlife 
        conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
            (8) expresses the intent of the Senate--
                    (A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
                    (B) to manage the National Wildlife Refuge System 
                for current and future generations.
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