II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4610 

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

the national bird. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2024 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Ms. LUMMIS, Mr. MULLIN, and Ms. SMITH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the 

bald eagle as the national bird. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF BALD EAGLE AS NATIONAL 

4 BIRD. 

5 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

6 (1) bald eagles are a historical symbol of the 

7 United States representing independence, strength, 

8 and freedom; 

9 (2) the bald eagle is unique to North America; 


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1 (3) on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was 

2 adopted as the Coat of Arms for the United States 

3 Great Seal; 

4 (4) the bald eagle image remains the leading in5 signia for all branches of the United States military; 

6 (5) the bald eagle is the leading image on thou7 sands of Federal Government branches, depart8 ments, and agencies, including the President, Vice9 President, Congress, and Senate; 

10 (6) the bald eagle serves as the logo, trade11 mark, and brand icon for businesses, nonprofit orga12 nizations, and sports teams across the United 

13 States; 

14 (7) bald eagles are integral to the spiritual lives 

15 and sacred belief systems of most Indigenous peoples 

16 and Tribal communities; 

17 (8) bald eagles are prevalent in belief, practice, 

18 stories, ceremonies, dance, traditions, songs, regalia, 

19 flags, insignias, arts, craft, and other forms of spir20 itual reverence; 

21 (9) bald eagle festivals are— 

22 (A) held in over 100 locations across the 

23 United States; and 

24 (B) key components of community engage25 ment; 


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1 (10) the bald eagle is prevalent on— 

2 (A) hundreds of United States stamps; and 

3 (B) many United States coins and cur4 rencies; 

5 (11) the bald eagle is a primary component and 

6 symbol on Federal and State flags throughout the 

7 United States; and 

8 (12) joint efforts of the Federal Government 

9 and State and local governments, nonprofit organi10 zations, and individuals have contributed to the suc11 cessful recovery of the bald eagle. 

12 (b) DESIGNATION.—Chapter 3 of title 36, United 

13 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol14 lowing: 

15 ‘‘§ 306. National bird 

16 ‘‘The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the na17 tional bird.’’. 

18 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec19 tions for chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is 

20 amended— 

21 (1) in the chapter heading, by striking ‘‘AND 

22 TREE’’ and inserting ‘‘TREE, AND BIRD’’; 

23 and 

24 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘306. National bird.’’. 


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1 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec2 tion, the amendments made by this section, or the adop3 tion of the bald eagle as the national bird of the United 

4 States may be construed or used as a reason to alter, 

5 change, modify, or otherwise affect any plan, policy, man6 agement decision, regulation, or other action of the Fed7 eral Government. 

Æ 


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