IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 805 
Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2023, 
to October 31, 2023, as ‘‘BatWeek’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 24, 2023 
Ms. BALINT submitted the following resolution 
OCTOBER 25, 2023 
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
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 eco-
systems, national economies, and human health by con-
trolling 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; 
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•HRES 805 IH 
Whereas bats are present throughout the world, except in ex-
tremely 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 popu-
lations 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 Geo-
logical Survey, the National Park Service, and the Bu-
reau 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 multi-
national, multiagency North American Bat Monitoring 
Program, which, since 2015, has consolidated nearly 
89,000,000 records from partners in 49 States, 9 Cana-
dian Provinces, and 19 Tribal organizations, dem-
onstrating the power of collaborative conservation science 
to monitor changes in North American bat populations; 
Whereas the United States Geological Survey conducts sci-
entific research on bats that helps resource managers and 
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•HRES 805 IH 
policymakers make informed decisions regarding the con-
servation of bats across North America; and 
Whereas, in the past decade, the international partnership of 
States, Tribes, Federal agencies, non-governmental orga-
nizations, 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of 
‘‘BatWeek’’; 
(2) encourages the observance of BatWeek with 
appropriate events and activities; 
(3) acknowledges the important role bats play 
as pollinators and pest control for agriculture; and 
(4) intends to— 
(A) continue working to conserve bat spe-
cies and their habitat; and 
(B) work to defeat the disease known as 
white-nose syndrome. 
Æ 
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