[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 396 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 396

   Designating the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as ``National 
                        Wildlife Refuge Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 4, 2023

 Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
   Reed, Mr. Carper, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Manchin, Mr. King, and Mr. 
 Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as ``National 
                        Wildlife Refuge Week''.

Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service administers the National 
        Wildlife Refuge System to conserve, manage, and, where appropriate, 
        restore fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within 
        the United States for the benefit of current and future generations;
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 include 568 national wildlife 
        refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and 5 marine national 
        monuments with units located in every State and territory of the United 
        States;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses more than 850,000,000 
        acres of unique habitats and ecosystems, including tropical and boreal 
        forests, wetlands, deserts, grasslands, arctic tundras, remote islands, 
        and marine areas, and spans 12 time zones from the United States Virgin 
        Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges support approximately 800 species of birds, 
        220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 
        1,100 species of fish;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened 
        species and endangered species;
Whereas 65 national wildlife refuges were established to conserve species 
        considered to be threatened or endangered under Federal standards, 
        including the American crocodile, California condor, Devil's Hole 
        pupfish, and Antioch Dunes evening primrose;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal lands that support 
        waterfowl habitat;
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund has generated more 
        than $2,000,000,000 and enabled the conservation of more than 6,300,000 
        acres of habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in the 
        National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas national wildlife refuges protect and conserve climate-resilient 
        habitats that support biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions;
Whereas more than 180 national wildlife refuges conserve marine, coastal, and 
        Great Lakes habitats, helping to protect communities by reducing the 
        risk of storm-surge flooding, especially in low-lying floodplain and 
        coastal areas;
Whereas many national wildlife refuges are managed to reduce wildfire risk by 
        thinning overgrown forests and removing invasive species;
Whereas meaningful engagement and proactive collaboration with Tribes, Alaska 
        Native Corporations, Alaska Native organizations, and the Native 
        Hawaiian community is an integral aspect of the co-stewardship of our 
        shared natural resources, including National Wildlife Refuge System 
        lands and waters;
Whereas important cultural and historic resources are protected on national 
        wildlife refuges, including--

    (1) archaeological sites detailing the lives of Native Americans and 
early colonists at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in 
Virginia;

    (2) World War II sites in the Pacific, from Attu in Alaska to Midway 
Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands; and

    (3) the remains of the home of the father of Harriet Tubman at 
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland;

Whereas Tribal consultation is a cornerstone of historic preservation on 
        national wildlife refuges where cultural resources and traditional 
        sacred spaces are important to Native American Tribes, including 
        Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, where the Nuwuvi people 
        finalized a plan with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to 
        respect and showcase ancient petroglyphs;
Whereas national wildlife refuges use a range of management tools, including 
        fire management, invasive species control, water management, wildlife 
        health assessments, inventory and monitoring species, facility condition 
        assessments, 5-year infrastructure project plans, and other tools to 
        conserve habitat and ensure opportunities for public access and 
        recreation;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism 
        destinations in communities across the United States, and offer a 
        variety of recreational opportunities, including sustainable hunting and 
        fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and 
        interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives nearly 68,000,000 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 hosts more than 42,000,000 annual 
        birding and wildlife observation visits;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway 
        communities;
Whereas, for every dollar appropriated to the National Wildlife Refuge System, 
        an average of approximately 5 dollars is returned to local economies;
Whereas 436 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs 
        and 378 units have fishing programs that support, respectively, more 
        than 2,600,000 hunting visits and more than 8,600,000 fishing visits 
        annually;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children 
        to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;
Whereas more than 15,000 volunteers and approximately 180 national wildlife 
        refuge ``Friends'' organizations contribute approximately 818,000 
        volunteer hours annually, the equivalent of 400 full-time employees, and 
        provide an important link between national wildlife refuges and local 
        communities;
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, engages 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 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 8, 2023, 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 8, 2023, 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 wildlife-dependent recreational 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, and interpretation, as well as environmental 
        education;
            (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) recognizes the commitment of the National Wildlife 
        Refuge System to engagement, relationships, knowledge-sharing, 
        and co-stewardship of National Wildlife Refuge System lands and 
        waters with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native 
        organizations, and the Native Hawaiian community;
            (9) 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.);
            (10) reaffirms the support of the Senate for wildlife 
        conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
            (11) expresses the intent of the Senate--
                    (A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
                    (B) to support the management of the United States 
                Fish and Wildlife Service of the National Wildlife 
                Refuge System for current and future generations.
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