IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 820 
Supporting the designation of the week beginning on October 12, 2025, 
as ‘‘National Wildlife Refuge Week’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 17, 2025 
Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself, Mr. WITTMAN, Ms. STANSBURY, 
Mr. VASQUEZ, and Ms. TOKUDA) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the designation of the week beginning on October 
12, 2025, as ‘‘National Wildlife Refuge Week’’. 
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service admin-
isters the National Wildlife Refuge System to conserve, 
manage, and, where appropriate, restore fish, wildlife, 
and plant resources and their habitats within the United 
States for the benefit of current and future generations; 
Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established 
the first national wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in 
Florida; 
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered 
by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and has 
grown to include 573 national wildlife refuges, 38 wet-
land management districts, and 5 marine national monu-
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ments with units located in every State and territory of 
the United States; 
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses 
more than 850,000,000 acres of unique habitats and eco-
systems, including tropical and boreal forests, wetlands, 
deserts, grasslands, arctic tundras, remote islands, and 
marine areas, and spans 12 time zones from the United 
States Virgin Islands to Guam; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges support approximately 800 
species of birds, 220 species of mammals, 250 species of 
reptiles and amphibians, and 1,100 species of fish; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide protection to more 
than 380 threatened species and endangered species; 
Whereas more than 65 national wildlife refuges were estab-
lished to conserve species considered to be threatened or 
endangered under Federal standards, including the 
American crocodile, California condor, Devil’s Hole 
pupfish, and Antioch Dunes evening primrose; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal 
lands that support waterfowl habitat; 
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund 
has generated more than $2,200,000,000 and enabled the 
conservation of approximately 6,400,000 acres of habitat 
for waterfowl and numerous other species in the National 
Wildlife Refuge System; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges protect and conserve cli-
mate-resilient habitats that support biodiversity and pro-
vide nature-based solutions; 
Whereas more than 180 national wildlife refuges conserve 
marine, coastal, and Great Lakes habitats, helping to 
protect communities by reducing the risk of storm-surge 
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flooding, especially in low-lying floodplain and coastal 
areas; 
Whereas many national wildlife refuges are managed to re-
duce wildfire risk by thinning overgrown forests and re-
moving invasive species; 
Whereas meaningful engagement and proactive collaboration 
with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native 
organizations, and the Native Hawaiian community is an 
integral aspect of the co-stewardship of our shared nat-
ural resources, including National Wildlife Refuge Sys-
tem lands and waters; 
Whereas important cultural and historic resources are pro-
tected on national wildlife refuges, including— 
(1) archaeological sites detailing the lives of Native 
Americans and early colonists at Rappahannock River 
Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia; 
(2) World War II sites in the Pacific, from Attu in 
Alaska to Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands; and 
(3) the remains of the home of the father of Harriet 
Tubman at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in 
Maryland; 
Whereas Tribal consultation is a cornerstone of historic pres-
ervation on national wildlife refuges where cultural re-
sources and traditional sacred spaces are important to 
Native American Tribes, including Pahranagat National 
Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, where the Nuwuvi people fi-
nalized a plan with the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service to respect and showcase ancient petroglyphs; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges use a range of management 
tools, including fire management, invasive species control, 
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water management, wildlife health assessments, inventory 
and monitoring species, facility condition assessments, 5- 
year infrastructure project plans, and other tools to con-
serve habitat and ensure opportunities for public access 
and recreation; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational 
and tourism destinations in communities across the 
United States, and offer a variety of recreational oppor-
tunities, including sustainable hunting and fishing, wild-
life observation, photography, environmental education, 
and interpretation; 
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives nearly 
71,000,000 annual visits which— 
(1) generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local 
economies; and 
(2) support 41,000 jobs; 
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System hosts nearly 
44,000,000 annual birding and wildlife observation visits; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local busi-
nesses and gateway communities; 
Whereas, for every dollar appropriated to the National Wild-
life Refuge System, an average of approximately 5 dollars 
is returned to local economies; 
Whereas more than 430 units of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System have hunting programs and more than 375 units 
have fishing programs which support, respectively, more 
than 2,700,000 hunting visits and more than 8,400,000 
fishing visits annually; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important op-
portunity for children to discover and gain a greater ap-
preciation for the natural world; 
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Whereas, in fiscal year 2025, nearly 24,000 volunteers con-
tributed approximately 886,000 volunteer hours in na-
tional wildlife refuges, which is equal to the number of 
hours worked by 425 full-time employees; 
Whereas 
approximately 
180 
national 
wildlife 
refuge 
‘‘Friends’’ organizations provide additional volunteer 
labor and serve as an important link between national 
wildlife refuges and local communities; 
Whereas 101 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
are within 25 miles of population centers of 250,000 peo-
ple or more; 
Whereas, through the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program, 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service works to dis-
mantle barriers that have blocked underserved commu-
nities from full and equal participation in outdoor recre-
ation and wildlife conservation; 
Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program fosters 
strong new conservation coalitions, educates and employs 
youth, engages communities, builds trust in government, 
and connects individuals with nature; 
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for 
people from all backgrounds to explore, connect with, and 
preserve the natural heritage of the United States; 
Whereas, since 1995, national wildlife refuges across the 
United States have held festivals, educational programs, 
guided tours, and other events to celebrate National 
Wildlife Refuge Week during the second full week of Oc-
tober; 
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has des-
ignated the week beginning on October 12, 2025, as Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge Week; and 
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Whereas the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week by 
the House of Representatives would recognize more than 
a century of conservation in the United States, raise 
awareness about the importance of wildlife and the Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System, and celebrate the myriad 
recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of 
this network of protected lands: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Wild-
life Refuge Week’’; 
(2) encourages the observance of National Wild-
life Refuge Week with appropriate events and activi-
ties; 
(3) recognizes the importance of national wild-
life refuges to wildlife conservation, the protection of 
imperiled species and ecosystems, and wildlife-de-
pendent recreational uses; 
(4) acknowledges the importance of national 
wildlife refuges for their recreational opportunities 
and contribution to local economies across the 
United States; 
(5) identifies the significance of national wild-
life refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife ob-
servation, photography, and interpretation, as well 
as environmental education; 
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(6) finds that national wildlife refuges play a 
vital role in securing the hunting and fishing herit-
age of the United States for future generations; 
(7) recognizes the important work of urban na-
tional wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and eth-
nically diverse urban communities that were long ex-
cluded, including work— 
(A) to foster strong new conservation coali-
tions; 
(B) to provide education and employment 
opportunities to youth; 
(C) to improve communities; 
(D) to build trust in government; and 
(E) to connect individuals with nature; 
(8) recognizes the commitment of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System to engagement, relation-
ships, knowledge-sharing, and co-stewardship of Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters with 
Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native 
organizations, and the Native Hawaiian community; 
(9) acknowledges the role of national wildlife 
refuges in conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habi-
tat under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 
703 et seq.); 
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(10) reaffirms the support of the House of Rep-
resentatives for wildlife conservation and the Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System; and 
(11) expresses the intent of the House of Rep-
resentatives— 
(A) to continue working to conserve wild-
life; and 
(B) to support the management by the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System for current 
and future generations. 
Æ 
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