H. Res. 1409 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
June 14, 2010. 
Whereas, on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was officially des-
ignated as the national emblem of the United States by 
the founding fathers at the Second Continental Congress; 
Whereas the bald eagle is the central image of the Great Seal 
of the United States; 
Whereas the image of the bald eagle is displayed in the offi-
cial seal of many branches and departments of the Fed-
eral Government, including— 
(1) the Office of the President; 
(2) the Office of the Vice President; 
(3) Congress; 
(4) the Supreme Court; 
(5) the Department of the Treasury; 
(6) the Department of Defense; 
(7) the Department of Justice; 
(8) the Department of State; 
(9) the Department of Commerce; 
(10) the Department of Homeland Security; 
(11) the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(12) the Department of Labor; 
(13) the Department of Health and Human Serv-
ices; 
(14) the Department of Energy;
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(15) the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment; 
(16) the Central Intelligence Agency; and 
(17) the Postal Service; 
Whereas the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of— 
(1) the spirit of freedom; and 
(2) the democracy of the United States; 
Whereas, since the founding of the Nation, the image, mean-
ing, and symbolism of the bald eagle have played a sig-
nificant role in the art, music, history, commerce, lit-
erature, architecture, and culture of the United States; 
Whereas the bald eagle is prominently featured on the 
stamps, currency, and coinage of the United States; 
Whereas the habitat of bald eagles exists only in North 
America; 
Whereas, by 1963, the population of bald eagles that nested 
in the lower 48 States had declined to approximately 417 
nesting pairs; 
Whereas, due to the dramatic decline in the population of 
bald eagles in the lower 48 States, the Secretary of the 
Interior listed the bald eagle as an endangered species on 
the list of endangered species published under section 
4(c)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1533(c)(1)); 
Whereas caring and concerned individuals from the Federal, 
State, and private sectors banded together to save, and 
help ensure the recovery and protection of, bald eagles; 
Whereas, on July 20, 1969, the first manned lunar landing 
occurred in the Apollo 11 Lunar Excursion Module, 
which was named ‘‘Eagle’’;
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Whereas the ‘‘Eagle’’ played an integral role in achieving the 
goal of the United States of landing a man on the Moon 
and returning that man safely to Earth; 
Whereas, in 1995, as a result of the efforts of those caring 
and concerned individuals, the Secretary of the Interior 
listed the bald eagle as a threatened species on the list 
of threatened species published under section 4(c)(1) of 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1533(c)(1)); 
Whereas, by 2007, the population of bald eagles that nested 
in the lower 48 States had increased to approximately 
10,000 nesting pairs, an increase of approximately 2,500 
percent from the preceding 40 years; 
Whereas, in 2007, the population of bald eagles that nested 
in the State of Alaska was approximately 50,000 to 
70,000; 
Whereas, on June 28, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior re-
moved the bald eagle from the list of threatened species 
published under section 4(c)(1) of the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(1)); 
Whereas bald eagles remain protected in accordance with— 
(1) the Act of June 8, 1940 (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.) 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Bald Eagle Protection Act of 
1940’’); and 
(2) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 
et seq.); 
Whereas, on January 15, 2008, the Secretary of the Treas-
ury issued 3 limited edition bald eagle commemorative 
coins under the American Bald Eagle Recovery and Na-
tional Emblem Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 
108–486; 118 Stat. 3934);
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Whereas the sale of the limited edition bald eagle commemo-
rative coins issued by the Secretary of the Treasury has 
raised approximately $7,800,000 for the nonprofit Amer-
ican Eagle Foundation of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to 
support efforts to protect the bald eagle; 
Whereas, if not for the vigilant conservation efforts of con-
cerned Americans and the enactment of strict environ-
mental protection laws (including regulations), the bald 
eagle would probably be extinct; 
Whereas the American Eagle Foundation has brought sub-
stantial public attention to the cause of the protection 
and care of the bald eagle nationally; 
Whereas November 4, 2010, marks the 25th anniversary of 
the American Eagle Foundation; 
Whereas the dramatic recovery of the population of bald ea-
gles— 
(1) is an endangered species success story; and 
(2) an inspirational example for other wildlife and 
natural resource conservation efforts around the world; 
Whereas the initial recovery of the population of bald eagles 
was accomplished by the concerted efforts of numerous 
government agencies, corporations, organizations, and in-
dividuals; 
Whereas June 20, 2010, would be an appropriate date to des-
ignate as ‘‘American Eagle Day’’; and 
Whereas the continuation of recovery, management, and pub-
lic awareness programs for bald eagles will be necessary 
to ensure— 
(1) the continued progress of the recovery of bald 
eagles; and
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(2) that the population and habitat of bald eagles 
will remain healthy and secure for future generations: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘American Eagle 
Day’’; 
(2) applauds the issuance of bald eagle commemora-
tive coins by the Secretary of the Treasury as a means 
by which to generate critical funds for the protection of 
bald eagles; and 
(3) encourages— 
(A) educational entities, organizations, busi-
nesses, conservation groups, and government agen-
cies with a shared interest in conserving endangered 
species to collaborate and develop educational tools 
for use in the public schools of the United States; 
and 
(B) the people of the United States to observe 
American Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies 
and other activities. 
Attest: 
Clerk.