[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 177 (Thursday, October 7, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7004-S7005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 415--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 10, 
               2021, AS ``NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK''

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

                              S. Res. 415

       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;

[[Page S7005]]

       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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