[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 114-152
114th Congress

An Act


 
To adopt the bison as the national mammal of the United
States. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``National Bison Legacy Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) bison are considered a historical symbol of the United
States;
(2) bison were integrally linked with the economic and
spiritual lives of many Indian tribes through trade and sacred
ceremonies;
(3) there are more than 60 Indian tribes participating in
the Intertribal Buffalo Council;
(4) numerous members of Indian tribes are involved in bison
restoration on tribal land;
(5) members of Indian tribes have a combined herd on more
than 1,000,000 acres of tribal land;
(6) the Intertribal Buffalo Council is a tribal organization
incorporated pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934
(commonly known as the ``Indian Reorganization Act'') (25 U.S.C.
477);
(7) bison can play an important role in improving the types
of grasses found in landscapes to the benefit of grasslands;
(8) a small group of ranchers helped save bison from
extinction in the late 1800s by gathering the remnants of the
decimated herds;
(9) bison hold significant economic value for private
producers and rural communities;
(10) according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture of the
Department of Agriculture, as of 2012, 162,110 head of bison
were under the stewardship of private producers, creating jobs
and providing a sustainable and healthy meat source contributing
to the food security of the United States;
(11) on December 8, 1905, William Hornaday, Theodore
Roosevelt, and others formed the American Bison Society in
response to the near extinction of bison in the United States;
(12) on October 11, 1907, the American Bison Society sent 15
captive-bred bison from the New York Zoological Park, now known
as the ``Bronx Zoo'', to the first wildlife refuge in the United
States, which was known as the ``Wichita Mountains Wildlife
Refuge'', resulting in the first successful reintroduction

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of a mammal species on the brink of extinction back into the
natural habitat of the species;
(13) in 2005, the American Bison Society was reestablished,
bringing together bison ranchers, managers from Indian tribes,
Federal and State agencies, conservation organizations, and
natural and social scientists from the United States, Canada,
and Mexico to create a vision for the North American bison in
the 21st century;
(14) there are bison herds in National Wildlife Refuges and
National Parks;
(15) there are bison in State-managed herds across 11
States;
(16) there is a growing effort to celebrate and officially
recognize the historical, cultural, and economic significance of
the North American bison to the heritage of the United States;
(17) a bison is portrayed on 2 State flags;
(18) the bison has been adopted by 3 States as the official
mammal or animal of those States;
(19) a bison has been depicted on the official seal of the
Department of the Interior since 1912;
(20) the buffalo nickel played an important role in
modernizing the currency of the United States;
(21) several sports teams have the bison as a mascot, which
highlights the iconic significance of bison in the United
States;
(22) in the 2nd session of the 113th Congress, 22 Senators
led a successful effort to enact a resolution to designate
November 1, 2014, as the third annual National Bison Day; and
(23) members of Indian tribes, bison producers,
conservationists, sportsmen, educators, and other public and
private partners have participated in the annual National Bison
Day celebration at several events across the United States and
are committed to continuing this tradition annually on the first
Saturday of November.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADOPTION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BISON AS
THE NATIONAL MAMMAL.

(a) In General.--The mammal commonly known as the ``North American
bison'' is adopted as the national mammal of the United States.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or the adoption of
the North American bison as the national mammal of the United States
shall be construed or used as a reason to alter,

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change, modify, or otherwise affect any plan, policy, management
decision, regulation, or other action by the Federal Government.

Approved May 9, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2908 (S. 2032):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114-483 (Comm. on Oversight and Government Reform).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
Apr. 26, considered and passed House.
Apr. 28, considered and passed Senate.