[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1420 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1420

Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October 
             9, 2022, as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2022

Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Kind, and Mr. 
 Joyce of Ohio) 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 
             9, 2022, as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.

Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national 
        wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas, in 2022, 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 568 
        national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts, with 
        units 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 the six 
        wildlife-dependent uses of hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, 
        photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives more than 61,000,000 annual 
        visits, which generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies and 
        support 41,000 jobs;
Whereas 436 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs 
        and 378 units have fishing programs that, respectively, support more 
        than 2,500,000 hunting visits and more than 8,300,000 fishing visits 
        annually;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System has hosted more than 37,000,000 
        birding and wildlife observation visits in recent years;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway 
        communities;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System contains many different kinds of 
        ecosystems, including 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 Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which has been 
        largely funded from the sale of the Federal Duck Stamp to outdoor 
        enthusiasts, has generated more than $1,100,000,000 and enabled the 
        conservation of more than 6,000,000 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 16,000 volunteers and almost 180 national wildlife refuge 
        ``Friends'' organizations contribute around 762,000 volunteer hours 
        annually, the equivalent of 360 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 101 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System are within 25 miles of 
        cities and suburbs where 80 percent of individuals in the United States 
        live;
Whereas, through the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program, the United States Fish 
        and Wildlife Service works to dismantle barriers that have blocked 
        underserved communities from full and equal participation in outdoor 
        recreation and wildlife conservation;
Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program fosters strong new conservation 
        coalitions, educates and employs youth, betters communities, builds 
        trust in government, and connects individuals with nature;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for people from all 
        backgrounds to explore, connect with, and preserve the nature 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 19, 2022, 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) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges 
        to wildlife conservation, the protection of imperiled species 
        and ecosystems, and compatible uses;
            (4) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife 
        refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution 
        to local economies across the United States;
            (5) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role 
        in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United 
        States for future generations;
            (6) identifies the significance of national wildlife 
        refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation, 
        photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
            (7) recognizes the important work of urban national 
        wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and ethnically diverse 
        urban communities that were long excluded, including work to--
                    (A) foster strong new conservation coalitions;
                    (B) provide education and employment opportunities 
                to youth;
                    (C) improve communities;
                    (D) build trust in government; and
                    (E) connect individuals with nature;
            (8) 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.);
            (9) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives 
        for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge 
        System; and
            (10) 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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