[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DESIGNATING JUNE 20, 2007, AS ``AMERICAN EAGLE DAY''

  The resolution (S. Res. 146) Designating June 20, 2007, as ``American 
Eagle Day,'' and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the 
American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, was 
agreed to; as follows:

                              S. Res. 146

       Whereas, the bald eagle was designated as the national 
     emblem of the United States on June 20, 1782, by our 
     country's Founding Fathers at the Second Continental 
     Congress;
       Whereas, the bald eagle is the central image used in the 
     Great Seal of the United States and the seals of the 
     President and Vice President;
       Whereas, the image of the bald eagle is displayed in the 
     official seal of many branches and departments of the Federal 
     Government, including--
       (1) Congress;
       (2) the Supreme Court;
       (3) the Department of Defense;
       (4) the Department of the Treasury;
       (5) the Department of Justice;
       (6) the Department of State;
       (7) the Department of Commerce;
       (8) the Department of Homeland Security;
       (9) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       (10) the Department of Labor;
       (11) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       (12) the Department of Energy;
       (13) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
       (14) the Central Intelligence Agency; and
       (15) the United States Postal Service;
       Whereas, the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of the 
     American spirit of freedom and democracy;
       Whereas, the image, meaning, and symbolism of the bald 
     eagle have played a significant role in American art, music, 
     history, literature, architecture, and culture since the 
     founding of our Nation;
       Whereas, the bald eagle is featured prominently on United 
     States stamps, currency, and coinage;
       Whereas, the habitat of bald eagles exists only in North 
     America;
       Whereas, by 1963, the number of nesting pairs of bald 
     eagles in the lower 48 States had dropped to about 417;
       Whereas, the bald eagle was first listed as an endangered 
     species in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation 
     Act, the Federal law that preceded the Endangered Species Act 
     of 1973;
       Whereas, caring and concerned citizens of the United States 
     in the private and public sectors banded together to save, 
     and help ensure the protection of, bald eagles;
       Whereas, in 1995, as a result of the efforts of those 
     caring and concerned citizens, bald eagles were removed from 
     the ``endangered'' species list and upgraded to the less 
     imperiled ``threatened'' status under the Endangered Species 
     Act of 1973;
       Whereas, by 2006, the number of bald eagles in the lower 48 
     States had increased to approximately 7,000 to 8,000 nesting 
     pairs;
       Whereas, the administration is likely to officially delist 
     the bald eagle from both the ``endangered'' and 
     ``threatened'' species lists under the Endangered Species Act 
     of 1973, with a final decision expected no later than June 
     29, 2007;
       Whereas, if delisted under the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973, bald eagles should be provided strong protection under 
     the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory 
     Bird Treaty Act;
       Whereas, bald eagles would have been permanently extinct if 
     not for vigilant conservation efforts of concerned citizens 
     and strict protection laws;
       Whereas, the dramatic recovery of the bald eagle population 
     is an endangered species success story and an inspirational 
     example for other wildlife and natural resource conservation 
     efforts around the world;
       Whereas, the initial recovery of the bald eagle population 
     was accomplished by the concerted efforts of numerous 
     government agencies, corporations, organizations, and 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, the sustained recovery of the bald eagle 
     population will require the continuation of recovery, 
     management, education, and public awareness programs, to 
     ensure that the population and habitat of bald eagles will 
     remain healthy and secure for future generations: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 20, 2007, as ``American Eagle Day''; 
     and
       (2) encourages--
       (A) educational entities, organizations, businesses, 
     conservation groups, and government agencies with a shared 
     interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate on 
     education information for use in schools; and
       (B) the people of the United States to observe American 
     Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies and other activities.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased that today the Senate has 
agreed to S. Res. 146, a bipartisan resolution establishing a national 
American Eagle Day, on June 20, 2007, the day the bald eagle was 
selected as our national emblem during the Second Continental Congress 
in 1782. I am delighted that the bald eagle is scheduled to be 
``delisted'' from the Endangered Species Act on June 20 of this year. I 
commend Senators Alexander and Byrd for their work on this resolution.
  The bald eagle has been protected under Federal law since Congress 
passed the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act in 1940. This law 
prohibits the taking, possessing, or commerce of both bald and golden 
eagles. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 reinforced protection of the 
bald eagle. I am a longtime supporter of the Endangered Species Act, a 
landmark environmental law that provides crucial protection to fish and 
wildlife on the verge of extinction.
  Vermont is actually one of the only States in the continental United 
States without nesting bald eagles. Senator Jeffords funded a program 
about three years ago where orphaned or threatened nestlings were 
relocated from sites between Maryland and Maine to nests in the Dead 
Creek State wildlife management area in Addison County, VT, along Lake 
Champlain.
  About 25 individual birds were successfully raised and released from 
nests there. While eagles usually return to nest in the general area 
where they were nestlings, it can take up to 4 years. Vermont fish and 
wildlife staff are closely monitoring the effort to see if Vermont will 
be successful in joining other states as a home to the bald eagle.
  I support the passage of this resolution, which would allow all of us 
to celebrate the successful recovery of the bald eagle, and to remember 
the freedoms and ideals that the eagle represents as a symbol of our 
country.

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