[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1122 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1122
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October
14, 2018, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 12, 2018
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Kind, Mr. LoBiondo, and
Mr. Wittman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October
14, 2018, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.
Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national
wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas, in 2018, the National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, is the premier system of land
and water to conserve wildlife in the world and has grown to
approximately 836,000,000 acres, 567 national wildlife refuges, and 38
wetland management districts located in every State and territory of the
United States;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism
destinations in communities across the United States and this protected
land offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including 6
wildlife-dependent uses that the National Wildlife Refuge System
manages, specifically hunting, fishing, wildlife observation,
photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System experiences more than 53,000,000
visits each year, which generate more than $2,400,000,000 in sales and
35,000 jobs in local economies;
Whereas visitation to the National Wildlife Refuge System in- creased by nearly
30 percent from 2006 to 2017;
Whereas, in 2018, 377 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting
programs and 312 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have
fishing programs, averaging more than 2,400,000 hunting visits and more
than 7,300,000 fishing visits each year;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System experienced more than 31,400,000
wildlife observation visits during fiscal year 2017;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway
communities;
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 United States 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 national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal lands on which the
production, migration, and wintering habitat for waterfowl are fostered;
Whereas, since 1934, the sale of the Federal Duck Stamp to outdoor enthusiasts
has generated more than $850,000,000 in funds, which has enabled the
purchase or lease of more than 5,700,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl
and numerous other species in the National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened and endangered
species;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger
landscapes and resources for other agencies of the Federal Government,
State governments, private landowners, and organizations in efforts to
secure the wildlife heritage of the United States;
Whereas more than 38,000 volunteers and approximately 200 national wildlife
refuge ``Friends'' organizations contribute more than 1,350,000
volunteer hours annually, the equivalent of 650 full-time employees, and
provide an important link to local communities;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children
to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;
Whereas there are national wildlife refuges located in several urban and
suburban areas and there is a refuge located within a 1-hour drive of
every metropolitan area in the United States, which has enabled national
wildlife refuges to employ, educate, and engage young people from all
backgrounds in exploring, connecting with, and preserving the natural
heritage of the United States;
Whereas, since 1995, 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 14, 2018, 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) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife
refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution
to local economies across the United States;
(4) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role
in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United
States for future generations;
(5) identifies the significance of national wildlife
refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation,
photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
(6) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges
to wildlife conservation, the protection of imperiled species
and ecosystems, and compatible uses;
(7) 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.);
(8) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives
for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge
System; and
(9) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives--
(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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