[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8043]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 
first day designated to the conservation of the world's endangered 
species. I would like to take a moment to thank my Senate colleagues 
for unanimously designating this special day, and especially to my 
Senate cosponsors for helping to make this day possible.
  Let me also commend my constituent Mr. David Robinson for suggesting 
the establishment of Endangered Species Day. I appreciate his hard work 
and dedication. Today's designation shows that individuals like Mr. 
Robinson do make a difference.
  I am encouraged to learn that today many fine institutions across our 
country will use the opportunity of Endangered Species Day to bolster 
public awareness about the threats facing endangered species worldwide. 
From lectures at local zoos to birding trips with regional Audubon 
chapters, events are being held nationwide to commemorate this day. My 
hope is that Endangered Species Day will spark the wonder and interest 
among young people, students, and the general public about how they can 
become more involved in these conservation efforts.
  In fact, I am proud to note that in my State of California, 
conservation and management efforts have helped significantly to 
restore California condor, winter run chinook salmon, and California 
gray whale populations. It is remarkable that even species once 
believed to have been extinct, such as the mount diablo buckwheat and 
the ventura marsh milk vetch, have been newly found in our State. The 
dedicated conservation efforts of volunteers, organizations, 
businesses, private landowners, and government agencies have proved 
effective in rehabilitating many endangered species populations.
  We can be encouraged by these developments. These instances 
demonstrate that with responsible management we can halt endangered 
species from continuing down the path towards extinction.
  Such success stories also show that more needs to be done to ensure 
the survival of these species. There are more than 1,000 species in the 
U.S. and abroad that are designated as ``at risk'' of extinction. With 
awareness comes responsibility, and it is my hope that Endangered 
Species Day will inspire continued action in response to the precarious 
circumstances of endangered species.
  Mr. President, I hope that communities across the country take 
advantage of this special day to discuss ways that they can participate 
in conservation efforts for endangered species in their State, 
throughout the country, and around the world.

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