III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 433 

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Missisquoi 

National Wildlife Refuge. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 26, 2023 

Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. SANDERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 

Works 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment 

of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. 

Whereas the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge (referred to 

in this preamble as the ‘‘Refuge’’) was established in 

1943 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.) for the protection 

and management of migratory birds; 

Whereas the Refuge is located on land sacred to the tribes 

of the Western Abenaki; 

Whereas the Refuge encompasses 6,729 acres of protected 

land in Franklin County, Vermont; 

Whereas more than half of this acreage is protected as an inviolate sanctuary, preserving pristine habitats for wildlife 

and native plant species to thrive; 

2 

•SRES 433 IS 

Whereas the Refuge is part of the Atlantic Flyway system of 

National Wildlife Refuges connecting the northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas of migratory 

birds; 

Whereas the Refuge was designated as a RAMSAR Wetland 

of International Importance in 2013, 1 of just 41 national wildlife refuges in the United States so designated; 

Whereas the Refuge is recognized as an Important Bird Area 

by the National Audubon Society; 

Whereas habitats found in the Refuge include floodplain forests, wetlands, shrublands, bogs, grasslands, and upland 

areas; 

Whereas the natural environment of the Refuge is essential 

to the ecosystems of Lake Champlain, supporting wildlife 

and preserving clean water resources; 

Whereas these ecosystems mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon and strengthening the resilience of neighboring communities; 

Whereas the 900-acre Maquam bog located in the Refuge is 

designated as a Research Natural Area and is the only 

pitch pine woodland bog in New England; 

Whereas the Refuge is home to vital feeding, resting, and 

breeding habitats for birds, which have supported more 

than 200 bird species; 

Whereas the Refuge is home to the largest concentration of 

waterfowl in the Champlain Valley and hosts more than 

20,000 ducks during their fall migration, including wood 

ducks, mallards, green-winged teal, and ring-neck ducks; 

Whereas the grassland habitats of the Refuge are home to 

bobolink, meadowlark, and savannah sparrows; 

3 

•SRES 433 IS 

Whereas the wetland habitats of the Refuge are populated by 

reptiles, fish, and amphibians; 

Whereas pollinators thrive in the shrublands and grasslands 

of the Refuge, including 13 species of bumblebees; 

Whereas other species that call the Refuge home include raccoons, black bears, coyotes, skunks, beavers, red foxes, 

river otters, bobcats, porcupines, muskrats, and minks; 

Whereas many of these animals are protected by the State 

of Vermont as threatened or endangered, such as the 

black tern and eastern sand darter; 

Whereas more than 80,000 visitors travel to the Refuge annually to partake in hiking, birding, fishing, boating, and 

hunting; 

Whereas visitors to the Refuge travel from all 50 states and 

multiple foreign countries to appreciate the beauty and 

biodiversity of the Refuge; 

Whereas the Refuge provides a valuable educational and interpretive resource for visitors and neighboring communities; 

Whereas the experience in nature while visiting the Refuge 

fosters a spiritual connection between people and the land 

they inhabit; 

Whereas the Refuge and the natural environment of Vermont 

support a vibrant outdoor recreation industry that has 

contributed billions of dollars to the State’s economy; 

Whereas archaeologists have documented a cultural heritage 

in the Refuge dating back more than 5,000 years; and 

Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the 

Abenaki community work in partnership to protect and 

4 

•SRES 433 IS 

maintain these cultural sites, preserving them for generations to come: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commemorates the 80th anniversary of the 

3 establishment of the Missisquoi National Wildlife 

4 Refuge; 

5 (2) recognizes the importance of this protected 

6 land to biodiversity and fragile ecosystems in 

7 Vermont and the world; and 

8 (3) resolves to support the National Wildlife 

9 Refuge System, including the Missisquoi National 

10 Wildlife Refuge, by providing the necessary financial 

11 and staffing resources to carry out its mission of 

12 conserving wildlife, protecting habitats, and pro13 viding access to outdoor recreational opportunities. 

Æ