```

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 475 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 475

        Supporting the goals and ideals of National Trails Day.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2009

Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Kind, Mr. Connolly of 
 Virginia, Mr. Wexler, Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Michaud, Ms. 
    Bordallo, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Polis of 
     Colorado, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Lee of 
 California, and Ms. Matsui) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
        Supporting the goals and ideals of National Trails Day.

Whereas more than 200,000 miles of trails provide access to the outdoors for 
        recreation, physical activity, inspiration, education, and exploration 
        of natural and cultural treasures in backcountry, urban, rural, and 
        suburban settings;
Whereas trails provide invaluable economic, health, environmental, and 
        transportation benefits to the Nation, including family oriented 
        recreational opportunities and economic development opportunities for 
        communities;
Whereas trails in our Nation are developed and maintained thanks to public-
        private partnerships, and dedicated volunteers provide hundreds of 
        thousands of hours in labor each year to trails, worth millions of 
        dollars, throughout our communities and public lands nationwide;
Whereas American Hiking Society founded National Trails Day in 1993 as a 
        national event held the first Saturday of every June to raise awareness 
        of and appreciation for trails;
Whereas Whereas National Trails Day is a nationwide day of public events, 
        including hikes, paddle trips, bike and horseback rides, trail work 
        projects, park clean-ups, and outdoor festivals, celebrated in 
        communities and on public lands in all 50 States, the District of 
        Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 64 percent 
        of the United States population is overweight and 75 percent of 
        Americans age 18 and over get too little physical activity;
Whereas regular physical activity, including walking and bicycling on trails, 
        helps control weight and reduce the risk of life-threatening diseases 
        such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other serious medical 
        conditions;
Whereas the 17th annual National Trails Day promotes the many benefits of trails 
        and recreational activities;
Whereas national, State, and local agencies promote, support, and participate in 
        National Trails Day, including the National Park Service, the Forest 
        Service, the Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife 
        Service, and Federal Highway Administration; and
Whereas in recognition of National Trails Day, volunteers and citizens all 
        across the United States will be celebrating, building, maintaining, 
        enjoying, and discovering our nation's outstanding trails: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, that the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that the important contributions of trail 
        volunteers and organizations have created an outstanding 
        network of trails across the country;
            (2) recognizes that trails and trail use improves the 
        quality of our lives and our physical and mental health and 
        well-being;
            (3) supports the goals and ideals of National Trails Day;
            (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Trails Day with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, 
        activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of 
        trails to our communities and everyday lives; and
            (5) recognizes and applauds national, State, and community 
        agencies and organizations for their work in promoting 
        awareness about trails and National Trails Day.
                                 <all>
```