IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1422 
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 
Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. 
VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MULLIN, Ms. PORTER, Mrs. NAPOLI-
TANO, Mr. NEGUSE, and Mr. RUIZ) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. 
Whereas September 3, 2024, marks the 60th anniversary of 
the date of the enactment of the Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), which gave to the people of the 
United States the National Wilderness Preservation Sys-
tem, an enduring resource of natural heritage; 
Whereas the Wilderness Act instituted a national policy to 
recognize the natural heritage of the United States as a 
valuable resource and to preserve wilderness for the use 
and enjoyment of future generations; 
Whereas, in the 60 years since the enactment of the Wilder-
ness Act, Presidents and congressional leaders from both 
parties, working with land management experts within 
the Departments of Interior and Agriculture and wilder-
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•HRES 1422 IH 
ness advocates, have expanded and improved the National 
Wilderness Preservation System; 
Whereas the Wilderness Act has been used by Congress to 
protect nearly 112,000,000 acres of public lands as des-
ignated wilderness in 44 States; 
Whereas wilderness provides billions of dollars of economic 
activity and ecosystem services in the form of safe drink-
ing water, clean air, wildlife habitat, and recreational op-
portunities; 
Whereas wilderness protects cultural landscapes, provides a 
place of refuge for wild nature, and preserves important 
parts of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community val-
ues; 
Whereas the next 60 years of the Wilderness Act presents an 
opportunity for the Federal Government to right the 
wrongs of the past and meaningfully include Tribal gov-
ernments in the designation and management of wilder-
ness areas; 
Whereas wilderness provides for and protects natural 
soundscapes and dark skies, which are increasingly rare 
resources in our developed world; 
Whereas wilderness serves as a natural laboratory for sci-
entific research, providing a benchmark for assessing the 
health of our natural world while deepening our under-
standing of ecological processes and the impacts of 
human activities on the environment; 
Whereas wilderness offers solitude, solace, and opportunities 
for personal reflection and growth; 
Whereas wilderness is an egalitarian means of access to wild 
places, connecting people to the natural world, promoting 
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•HRES 1422 IH 
physical and mental well-being, and fostering a sense of 
wonder and responsibility for the environment; 
Whereas global climate change, biodiversity loss, degradation 
of wildlands, and nature deprivation are the existential, 
interconnected crises of our times; 
Whereas wilderness helps mitigate the effects of climate 
change by providing critical refugia for flora and fauna, 
reducing surface disturbances that exacerbate the effects 
of climate change, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions 
related to fossil fuel extraction, and contributing to the 
goal of protecting 30 percent of global lands and waters 
by 2030; and 
Whereas wilderness remains the most effective and durable 
conservation tool of the United States, preserving wild 
nature for the benefit of humanity and other species and 
providing a clear legal framework for safeguarding deli-
cate ecosystems from degradation: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Wil-
derness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); 
(2) recognizes and commends the extraordinary 
work of the individuals and organizations involved in 
advocating for and maintaining the National Wilder-
ness Preservation System; 
(3) acknowledges the value of Traditional Indig-
enous Knowledge and recognizes the importance of 
including Indian Tribes in the designation and man-
agement of wilderness areas; and 
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(4) celebrates wilderness, a uniquely American 
idea and asset preserved as a gift to future genera-
tions, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, age, sex-
ual orientation, gender identity, economic status, po-
litical belief, or other diverse characteristics. 
Æ 
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