IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1123 

Expressing support for the designation of September 29, 2020, as National 

Urban Wildlife Refuge Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 

Mr. WITTMAN (for himself, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mrs. LURIA, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 

Mrs. DINGELL, and Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of September 29, 

2020, as National Urban Wildlife Refuge Day. 

Whereas today over 80 percent of Americans live in or near 

cities with limited opportunities to access nature or experience outdoor recreation; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

states that youth ages 8 to 18 spend on average between 

6 to 9 hours a day in front of screens; 

Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System, within the 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, manages 568 

national wildlife refuges, a national network of lands and 

waters managed for the benefit of America’s fish, wildlife, 

and plants; 


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2 

•HRES 1123 IH 

Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for 

children and people of all ages to discover and gain a 

greater appreciation for the natural world and the fact 

that there is a refuge located within a 1-hour drive of 

every metropolitan area in the United States; 

Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program within the 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service is an innovative 

model that centers on introducing Americans living in 

densely populated areas to the over 100 national wildlife 

refuges near urban areas and that provides a strategic 

opportunity to promote wildlife conservation and enjoyment of hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent 

recreation in the heart of where people live; 

Whereas urban wildlife refuges enhance and celebrate the 

grassroots efforts of local communities to protect local 

watersheds and ecosystems; 

Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program focuses 

on public-private partnerships to deliver greater wildlife 

conservation and access to recreation, including outdoor 

traditions like hunting and fishing, both on and off national wildlife refuges, collaborating and aligning with 

local efforts to enhance the visitor experience; 

Whereas by being a good neighbor, exploring community-centered approaches to address local needs, reaching out to 

the next generation of anglers and hunters, and providing 

infrastructure and safe access, the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program works to empower local organizations, 

cities, and towns across the country to support innovative, community-based conservation; and 


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•HRES 1123 IH 

Whereas September 29 would be an appropriate day to establish as National Urban Wildlife Refuge Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of National Urban 

3 Wildlife Refuge Day; 

4 (2) encourages the United States Fish and 

5 Wildlife Service to increase access and provide a 

6 safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for out7 door recreational opportunities for urban commu8 nities; 

9 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

10 to visit and experience the more than 100 urban na11 tional wildlife refuges of the United States; and 

12 (4) affirms the support of the House of Rep13 resentatives for the Urban Wildlife Conservation 

14 Program within the United States Fish and Wildlife 

15 Service. 

Æ 


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