[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 315 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 315

          Designating November 4, 2017, as National Bison Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 31, 2017

 Mr. Hoeven (for himself, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. 
Inhofe, Mr. Udall, Mr. Moran, Mr. Tester, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. 
 Portman, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Thune, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Roberts, 
    and Ms. Heitkamp) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Designating November 4, 2017, as National Bison Day.

Whereas on May 9, 2016, the North American bison was adopted as the national 
        mammal of the United States;
Whereas bison are considered a historical symbol of the United States;
Whereas bison were integrally linked with the economic and spiritual lives of 
        many Indian tribes through trade and sacred ceremonies;
Whereas there are more than 60 Indian tribes participating in the Intertribal 
        Buffalo Council;
Whereas numerous members of Indian tribes are involved in bison restoration on 
        tribal land;
Whereas members of Indian tribes have a combined herd on more than 1,000,000 
        acres of tribal land;
Whereas the Intertribal Buffalo Council is a tribal organization incorporated 
        pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as 
        the ``Indian Reorganization Act'') (25 U.S.C. 477);
Whereas bison can play an important role in improving the types of grasses found 
        in landscapes to the benefit of grasslands;
Whereas a bison has been depicted on the official seal of the Department of the 
        Interior since 1912;
Whereas bison hold significant economic value for private producers and rural 
        communities;
Whereas, as of 2012, the Department of Agriculture estimates that 162,110 head 
        of bison were under the stewardship of private producers, creating jobs, 
        and contributing to the food security of the United States by providing 
        a sustainable and healthy meat source;
Whereas a bison is portrayed on 2 State flags;
Whereas the bison has been adopted by 3 States as the official mammal or animal 
        of those States;
Whereas the buffalo nickel played an important role in modernizing the currency 
        of the United States;
Whereas several sports teams have the bison as a mascot, which highlights the 
        iconic significance of bison in the United States;
Whereas a small group of ranchers helped save bison from extinction in the late 
        1800s by gathering the remaining bison of the diminished herds;
Whereas on December 8, 1905, William Hornaday, Theodore Roosevelt, and others 
        formed the American Bison Society in response to the near extinction of 
        bison in the United States;
Whereas on October 11, 1907, the American Bison Society sent 15 captive-bred 
        bison from the New York Zoological Park, now known as the ``Bronx Zoo'', 
        to the first big game refuge in the United States, now known as the 
        ``Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge'';
Whereas in 2005, the American Bison Society was reestablished, bringing together 
        bison ranchers, managers from Indian tribes, Federal and State agencies, 
        conservation organizations, and natural and social scientists from the 
        United States, Canada, and Mexico to create a vision for the North 
        American bison in the 21st century;
Whereas there are bison herds in National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, and 
        National Forests;
Whereas there are bison in State-managed herds across 11 States;
Whereas private, public, and tribal bison leaders are working together to 
        continue bison restoration throughout North America;
Whereas there is a growing effort to celebrate and officially recognize the 
        historical, cultural, and economic significance of the North American 
        bison to the heritage of the United States; and
Whereas members of Indian tribes, bison producers, conservationists, sportsmen, 
        educators, and other public and private partners have celebrated the 
        annual National Bison Day since 2012 and are committed to continuing 
        this tradition annually on the first Saturday of November: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 4, 2017, the first Saturday of 
        November, as National Bison Day; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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