[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 383 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 383

   To express support for recognition of June 2017 as National Orca 
                           Protection Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 2017

Mr. Heck (for himself, Mr. Kilmer, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Smith 
of Washington, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Lee, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, and 
Mr. Larsen of Washington) submitted the following resolution; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   To express support for recognition of June 2017 as National Orca 
                           Protection Month.

Whereas orcas are an icon of the Pacific Northwest;
Whereas orcas are culturally and spiritually important to Indian tribes in the 
        Pacific Northwest;
Whereas the Puget Sound is home to three pods of Southern Resident orcas;
Whereas the Southern Resident orca population has declined dramatically over the 
        past 50 years;
Whereas the Southern Resident orcas in 2016 lost their matriarch and the oldest 
        known orca, ``Granny'' (designated as J2), along with six other members 
        of the J clan;
Whereas the Southern Resident orcas are among the most contaminated marine 
        mammals in the world;
Whereas the Southern Resident orcas are threatened by declining chinook salmon 
        populations;
Whereas the Southern Resident orcas have been protected under the Endangered 
        Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) since 2005 and are one of 
        the most endangered marine mammal populations in the world;
Whereas June 2017 has been recognized by the States of Washington and Oregon as 
        Orca Awareness Month; and
Whereas the Federal Government has an obligation to protect and restore the 
        Southern Resident orca population: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports recognition of 
National Orca Protection Month.
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