[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4953-S4954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 396--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 8, 
               2023, AS ``NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WEEK''

  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:

                              S. Res. 396

       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;

[[Page S4954]]

       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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