III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 436 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2023, 

to October 31, 2023, as ‘‘BatWeek’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 26, 2023 

Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. BRAUN) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of 

October 24, 2023, to October 31, 2023, as ‘‘BatWeek’’. 

Whereas bats are vital to the sustainability of natural ecosystems, national economies, and human health by controlling damaging insect pests, pollinating plants that 

produce fruits and vegetables, dispersing seeds to ensure 

healthy functioning forests and fields, and saving farmers 

in the United States more than $3,000,000,000 in pest 

control every year; 

Whereas bats have captured the human imagination through 

backyard sightings, folklore, art, myths, and legends, 

making outreach and education about the importance of 

bats instrumental; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 436 ATS 

Whereas bats are present throughout the world, except in extremely cold regions, and are the second-largest order of 

mammals with over 1,400 species; 

Whereas white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has 

killed millions of bats in North America, has now spread 

to 40 States and 12 species of hibernating bats; 

Whereas the disease has caused significant declines in populations of the tricolored bat, the little brown bat, and the 

northern long-eared bat, which is listed as endangered by 

the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.); 

Whereas the Department of the Interior, through the United 

States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, is leading the international 

response to the disease in partnership with the United 

States Forest Service and more than 150 Federal and 

State agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, 

and universities; 

Whereas the United States Geological Survey and the United 

States Fish and Wildlife Service co-lead the multinational, multiagency North American Bat Monitoring 

Program, which, since 2015, has consolidated nearly 

89,000,000 records from partners in 49 States, 9 Canadian Provinces, and 19 Tribal organizations, demonstrating the power of collaborative conservation science 

to monitor changes in North American bat populations; 

Whereas the United States Geological Survey conducts scientific research on bats that helps resource managers and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 436 ATS 

policymakers make informed decisions regarding the conservation of bats across North America; and 

Whereas, in the past decade, the international partnership of 

States, Tribes, Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other institutions has made extraordinary 

progress to understand white-nose syndrome, slow the 

spread of the disease, and develop treatments that hold 

promise for ending this epidemic: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘BatWeek’’; 

4 (2) encourages the observance of BatWeek with 

5 appropriate events and activities; 

6 (3) acknowledges the important role bats play 

7 as pollinators and pest control for agriculture; and 

8 (4) intends to— 

9 (A) continue working to conserve bat spe10 cies and their habitat; and 

11 (B) work to defeat the disease known as 

12 white-nose syndrome. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB