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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4610 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4610

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 
 To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the bald eagle as 
                           the national bird.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF BALD EAGLE AS NATIONAL BIRD.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) bald eagles are a historical symbol of the United 
        States representing independence, strength, and freedom;
            (2) the bald eagle is unique to North America;
            (3) on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was adopted as the 
        Coat of Arms for the United States Great Seal;
            (4) the bald eagle image remains the leading insignia for 
        all branches of the United States military;
            (5) the bald eagle is the leading image on thousands of 
        Federal Government branches, departments, and agencies, 
        including the President, Vice-President, Congress, and Senate;
            (6) the bald eagle serves as the logo, trademark, and brand 
        icon for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and sports teams 
        across the United States;
            (7) bald eagles are integral to the spiritual lives and 
        sacred belief systems of most Indigenous peoples and Tribal 
        communities;
            (8) bald eagles are prevalent in belief, practice, stories, 
        ceremonies, dance, traditions, songs, regalia, flags, 
        insignias, arts, craft, and other forms of spiritual reverence;
            (9) bald eagle festivals are--
                    (A) held in over 100 locations across the United 
                States; and
                    (B) key components of community engagement;
            (10) the bald eagle is prevalent on--
                    (A) hundreds of United States stamps; and
                    (B) many United States coins and currencies;
            (11) the bald eagle is a primary component and symbol on 
        Federal and State flags throughout the United States; and
            (12) joint efforts of the Federal Government and State and 
        local governments, nonprofit organizations, and individuals 
        have contributed to the successful recovery of the bald eagle.
    (b) Designation.--Chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 306. National bird
    ``The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the national 
bird.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections for chapter 3 of 
title 36, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the chapter heading, by striking ``AND TREE'' and 
        inserting ``TREE, AND BIRD''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

``306. National bird.''.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, the amendments 
made by this section, or the adoption of the bald eagle as the national 
bird of the United States may be construed or used as a reason to 
alter, change, modify, or otherwise affect any plan, policy, management 
decision, regulation, or other action of the Federal Government.

            Passed the Senate July 29, 2024.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 4610

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the bald eagle as 
                           the national bird.
```