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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 543 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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;
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 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 1, 2014, the first Saturday of 
        November, as National Bison Day; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>
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