[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 415 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 415

   Designating the week beginning on October 10, 2021, as ``National 
                        Wildlife Refuge Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 7, 2021

    Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the week beginning on October 10, 2021, as ``National 
                        Wildlife Refuge Week''.

Whereas in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national 
        wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered by the United States 
        Fish and Wildlife Service 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 offer a 
        variety of recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, 
        wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and 
        interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives more than 61,000,000 annual 
        visits that--

    (1) generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies; and

    (2) support 41,000 jobs;

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 434 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs 
        and 378 units have fishing programs that support more than 2,500,000 
        hunting visits and more than 8,300,000 fishing visits annually;
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 support 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 that support 
        waterfowl habitats;
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund 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 species and 
        endangered species;
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 
        under-served 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 more than 33,000 volunteers and almost 180 national wildlife refuge 
        ``Friends'' organizations contribute approximately 900,000 volunteer 
        hours annually, the equivalent of 442 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 national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for people from all 
        backgrounds to explore, connect with, and preserve the natural heritage 
        of the United States;
Whereas, since 1995, national wildlife 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 10, 2021, as National Wildlife Refuge Week; and
Whereas the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week by the Senate 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 Senate--
            (1) designates the week beginning on October 10, 2021, as 
        ``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) identifies the significance of national wildlife 
        refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation, 
        photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
            (6) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role 
        in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United 
        States for future generations;
            (7) recognizes the important work of urban national 
        wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and ethnically diverse 
        urban communities that were long excluded, including work--
                    (A) to foster strong new conservation coalitions;
                    (B) to provide education and employment 
                opportunities to youth;
                    (C) to improve communities;
                    (D) to build trust in government; and
                    (E) to 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 Senate for wildlife 
        conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
            (10) 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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