[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1422 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1422

        Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 3, 2024

 Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Huffman, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. 
 Velazquez, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Porter, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. 
  Neguse, and Mr. Ruiz) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
        Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

Whereas September 3, 2024, marks the 60th anniversary of the date of the 
        enactment of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), which gave to 
        the people of the United States the National Wilderness Preservation 
        System, an enduring resource of natural heritage;
Whereas the Wilderness Act instituted a national policy to recognize the natural 
        heritage of the United States as a valuable resource and to preserve 
        wilderness for the use and enjoyment of future generations;
Whereas, in the 60 years since the enactment of the Wilderness Act, Presidents 
        and congressional leaders from both parties, working with land 
        management experts within the Departments of Interior and Agriculture 
        and wilderness advocates, have expanded and improved the National 
        Wilderness Preservation System;
Whereas the Wilderness Act has been used by Congress to protect nearly 
        112,000,000 acres of public lands as designated wilderness in 44 States;
Whereas wilderness provides billions of dollars of economic activity and 
        ecosystem services in the form of safe drinking water, clean air, 
        wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities;
Whereas wilderness protects cultural landscapes, provides a place of refuge for 
        wild nature, and preserves important parts of Indigenous and non-
        Indigenous community values;
Whereas the next 60 years of the Wilderness Act presents an opportunity for the 
        Federal Government to right the wrongs of the past and meaningfully 
        include Tribal governments in the designation and management of 
        wilderness areas;
Whereas wilderness provides for and protects natural soundscapes and dark skies, 
        which are increasingly rare resources in our developed world;
Whereas wilderness serves as a natural laboratory for scientific research, 
        providing a benchmark for assessing the health of our natural world 
        while deepening our understanding of ecological processes and the 
        impacts of human activities on the environment;
Whereas wilderness offers solitude, solace, and opportunities for personal 
        reflection and growth;
Whereas wilderness is an egalitarian means of access to wild places, connecting 
        people to the natural world, promoting physical and mental well-being, 
        and fostering a sense of wonder and responsibility for the environment;
Whereas global climate change, biodiversity loss, degradation of wildlands, and 
        nature deprivation are the existential, interconnected crises of our 
        times;
Whereas wilderness helps mitigate the effects of climate change by providing 
        critical refugia for flora and fauna, reducing surface disturbances that 
        exacerbate the effects of climate change, eliminating greenhouse gas 
        emissions related to fossil fuel extraction, and contributing to the 
        goal of protecting 30 percent of global lands and waters by 2030; and
Whereas wilderness remains the most effective and durable conservation tool of 
        the United States, preserving wild nature for the benefit of humanity 
        and other species and providing a clear legal framework for safeguarding 
        delicate ecosystems from degradation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act 
        (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.);
            (2) recognizes and commends the extraordinary work of the 
        individuals and organizations involved in advocating for and 
        maintaining the National Wilderness Preservation System;
            (3) acknowledges the value of Traditional Indigenous 
        Knowledge and recognizes the importance of including Indian 
        Tribes in the designation and management of wilderness areas; 
        and
            (4) celebrates wilderness, a uniquely American idea and 
        asset preserved as a gift to future generations, regardless of 
        race, religion, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender 
        identity, economic status, political belief, or other diverse 
        characteristics.
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