[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 
              2026, AS ``NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK''

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2026

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bipartisan 
resolution that I am introducing with my Ohio colleague, Representative 
Robert E. Latta, proclaiming May 8, 2026, through May 17, 2026, as 
National American Birding Week.
  Across our Nation, nearly 96 million birders contribute more than $90 
billion in job income each year. That is not just recreation, that is 
an economic engine rooted in conservation.
  Each spring, an estimated 3.5 billion birds, representing over 350 
species, make their journey north, many pausing along the shores of our 
Great Lakes to rest and refuel before crossing those vast freshwater 
horizons. In Northwest Ohio, we are blessed to witness this living 
miracle.
  Our Great Lakes region becomes a gathering place for people from 
across the globe--environmental stewards, scientists, families, and 
visitors--drawn by the beauty and wonder of migration. Events like the 
Biggest Week in American Birding, hosted by the Black Swamp Bird 
Observatory in Oak Harbor, showcase what is possible when conservation 
and economic development work hand in hand. These efforts sustain local 
communities, support small businesses, and deepen our understanding of 
the fragile ecosystems that sustain life.
  In Ohio, we are proud to welcome visitors from near and far. We 
cherish this freshwater kingdom and the life it sustains. And we remain 
committed to protecting it, so that generations to come may stand 
beneath open skies, watch the wings overhead, and know that nature 
still endures.

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