[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 146--DESIGNATING JUNE 20, 2007, AS ``AMERICAN EAGLE 
  DAY'', AND CELEBRATING THE RECOVERY AND RESTORATION OF THE AMERICAN 
          BALD EAGLE, THE NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Allard, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Corker, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 146

       Whereas, the bald eagle was designated as the national 
     emblem of the United States on June 20, 1782, by our 
     country's Founding Fathers at the Second Continental 
     Congress;
       Whereas, the bald eagle is the central image used in the 
     Great Seal of the United States and the seals of the 
     President and Vice President;
       Whereas, the image of the bald eagle is displayed in the 
     official seal of many branches and departments of the Federal 
     Government, including--
       (1) Congress;
       (2) the Supreme Court;
       (3) the Department of Defense;
       (4) the Department of the Treasury;
       (5) the Department of Justice;
       (6) the Department of State;
       (7) the Department of Commerce;
       (8) the Department of Homeland Security;
       (9) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       (10) the Department of Labor;
       (11) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       (12) the Department of Energy;
       (13) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
       (14) the Central Intelligence Agency; and
       (15) the United States Postal Service;
       Whereas, the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of the 
     American spirit of freedom and democracy;
       Whereas, the image, meaning, and symbolism of the bald 
     eagle have played a significant role in American art, music, 
     history, literature, architecture, and culture since the 
     founding of our Nation;
       Whereas, the bald eagle is featured prominently on United 
     States stamps, currency, and coinage;
       Whereas, the habitat of bald eagles exists only in North 
     America;
       Whereas, by 1963, the number of nesting pairs of bald 
     eagles in the lower 48 States had dropped to about 417;
       Whereas, the bald eagle was first listed as an endangered 
     species in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation 
     Act, the Federal law that preceded the Endangered Species Act 
     of 1973;
       Whereas, caring and concerned citizens of the United States 
     in the private and public sectors banded together to save, 
     and help ensure the protection of, bald eagles;
       Whereas, in 1995, as a result of the efforts of those 
     caring and concerned citizens, bald eagles were removed from 
     the ``endangered'' species list and upgraded to the less 
     imperiled ``threatened'' status under the Endangered Species 
     Act of 1973;
       Whereas, by 2006, the number of bald eagles in the lower 48 
     States had increased to approximately 7,000 to 8,000 nesting 
     pairs;
       Whereas, the administration is likely to officially delist 
     the bald eagle from both the ``endangered'' and 
     ``threatened'' species lists under the Endangered Species Act 
     of 1973, with a final decision expected no later than June 
     29, 2007;
       Whereas, if delisted under the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973, bald eagles should be provided strong protection under 
     the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory 
     Bird Treaty Act;
       Whereas, bald eagles would have been permanently extinct if 
     not for vigilant conservation efforts of concerned citizens 
     and strict protection laws;
       Whereas, the dramatic recovery of the bald eagle population 
     is an endangered species success story and an inspirational 
     example for other wildlife and natural resource conservation 
     efforts around the world;
       Whereas, the initial recovery of the bald eagle population 
     was accomplished by the concerted efforts of numerous 
     government agencies, corporations, organizations, and 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, the sustained recovery of the bald eagle 
     population will require the continuation of recovery, 
     management, education, and public awareness programs, to 
     ensure that the population and habitat of bald eagles will 
     remain healthy and secure for future generations: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 20, 2007, as ``American Eagle Day''; 
     and
       (2) encourages--
       (A) educational entities, organizations, businesses, 
     conservation groups, and government agencies with a shared 
     interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate on 
     education information for use in schools; and
       (B) the people of the United States to observe American 
     Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies and other activities.

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