[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PURPLE MARTIN CONSERVATION DAY

  Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise today on another topic, one that is 
dear to me. I have been involved in this pastime since I was 10 years 
old. Most of you may not know where I am going to go, but it is one of 
the most unique birds that the good Lord ever created. It is called a 
purple martin. It is a bird, about 8 ounces or so, that migrates back 
and forth from North America to the Amazon. Does it each year.
  I became a landlord for them back many, many years ago. And it is the 
only bird, through adapting, that is now totally dependent on man-made 
housing--you have seen gourds out there. They are a bird that only 
lives in a colony; most song birds are territorial. A really unique 
bird.
  There is actually an association called the Purple Martin 
Conservation Association, where avid supporters support it across the 
country.
  Due to habitat loss over time, where their normal habitat would have 
been in the wild, many years ago Inuits lured them into their own 
communities because the purple martins only eat flying insects. Truly 
an amazing bird that has been under some pressure recently. And if that 
heritage isn't continued, since they are now dependent on man-made 
housing, we could lose one of the most unique birds that God ever 
created.
  Efforts from conservationists across the country have been mostly 
behind making sure that this heritage remains. This is a resolution 
that celebrates the efforts of all of them. It designated this past 
August 10 as ``Purple Martin Conservation Day'' to recognize their work 
and to protect this natural treasure.
  This resolution was endorsed by the National Audubon Society, North 
American Bluebird Society, the Purple Martin Conservation Association, 
and many other naturalists and conservation groups.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the 
Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 803.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 803) recognizing the importance of 
     purple martins to United States ecosystems, tourism, and 
     history by designating August 10, 2024, as ``Purple Martin 
     Conservation Day''.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mr. BRAUN. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to; the 
preamble be agreed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 803) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in the Record of 
August 1, 2024, under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. BRAUN. I ask that the scheduled vote occur immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________