III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 543 

Designating November 1, 2014, as National Bison Day. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 

Mr. ENZI (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. 

BENNET, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. ROBERTS, 

Mr. HATCH, Ms. HEITKAMP, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. WICKER, Mr. DONNELLY, 

Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. JOHANNS) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating November 1, 2014, as National Bison Day. 

Whereas bison are considered a historical symbol of the 

United States; 

Whereas bison were integrally linked with the economic and 

spiritual lives of many Indian tribes through trade and 

sacred ceremonies; 

Whereas there are more than 60 Indian tribes participating 

in the Intertribal Buffalo Council; 

Whereas numerous members of Indian tribes are involved in 

bison restoration on tribal land; 

Whereas members of Indian tribes have a combined herd on 

more than 1,000,000 acres of tribal land; 


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•SRES 543 IS 

Whereas the Intertribal Buffalo Council is a tribal organization incorporated pursuant to section 17 of the Act of 

June 18, 1934 (commonly known as ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’) (25 U.S.C. 477); 

Whereas bison can play an important role in improving the 

types of grasses found in landscapes to the benefit of 

grasslands; 

Whereas a bison has been depicted on the official seal of the 

Department of the Interior since 1912; 

Whereas bison hold significant economic value for private 

producers and rural communities; 

Whereas, as of 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 162,110 head of bison were under 

the stewardship of private producers, creating jobs and 

contributing to the food security of the United States by 

providing a sustainable and healthy meat source; 

Whereas a bison is portrayed on 2 State flags; 

Whereas the bison has been adopted by 3 States as the official mammal or animal of those States; 

Whereas the buffalo nickel played an important role in modernizing the currency of the United States; 

Whereas several sports teams have the bison as a mascot, 

which highlights the iconic significance of bison in the 

United States; 

Whereas 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; 

Whereas on October 11, 1907, the American Bison Society 

sent 15 bison to the first big game refuge in the United 


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States, which was known as the ‘‘Wichita Reserve Bison 

Refuge’’; 

Whereas 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; 

Whereas there are bison herds in National Wildlife Refuges 

and National Parks; 

Whereas there are bison in State-managed herds across 11 

States; 

Whereas 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; and 

Whereas members of Indian tribes, bison producers, conservationists, sportsmen, educators, and other public and 

private partners have participated in the annual National 

Bison Day since 2012 and are committed to continuing 

this tradition annually on the first Saturday of November: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates November 1, 2014, the first Sat3 urday of November, as National Bison Day; and 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and 

6 activities. 

Æ 


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