IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 822 
Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Missisquoi 
National Wildlife Refuge. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 30, 2023 
Ms. BALINT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment 
of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. 
Whereas the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge (referred to 
in this preamble as the ‘‘Refuge’’) was established in 
1943 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Con-
servation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.) for the protection 
and management of migratory birds; 
Whereas the Refuge is located on land sacred to the tribes 
of the Western Abenaki; 
Whereas the Refuge encompasses 6,729 acres of protected 
land in Franklin County, Vermont; 
Whereas more than half of this acreage is protected as an in-
violate sanctuary, preserving pristine habitats for wildlife 
and native plant species to thrive; 
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•HRES 822 IH 
Whereas the Refuge is part of the Atlantic Flyway system of 
National Wildlife Refuges connecting the northern breed-
ing grounds and southern wintering areas of migratory 
birds; 
Whereas the Refuge was designated as a Ramsar Wetland of 
International Importance in 2013, 1 of just 41 national 
wildlife refuges in the United States so designated; 
Whereas the Refuge is recognized as an Important Bird Area 
by the National Audubon Society; 
Whereas habitats found in the Refuge include floodplain for-
ests, wetlands, shrublands, bogs, grasslands, and upland 
areas; 
Whereas the natural environment of the Refuge is essential 
to the ecosystems of Lake Champlain, supporting wildlife 
and preserving clean water resources; 
Whereas these ecosystems mitigate climate change by seques-
tering carbon and strengthening the resilience of neigh-
boring communities; 
Whereas the 900-acre Maquam Bog located in the Refuge is 
designated as a Research Natural Area and is the only 
pitch pine woodland bog in New England; 
Whereas the Refuge is home to vital feeding, resting, and 
breeding habitats for birds, which have supported more 
than 200 bird species;; 
Whereas the Refuge is home to the largest concentration of 
waterfowl in the Champlain Valley and hosts more than 
20,000 ducks during their fall migration, including wood 
ducks, mallards, green-winged teal, and ring-neck ducks; 
Whereas the grassland habitats of the Refuge are home to 
bobolink, meadowlark, and savannah sparrows; 
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•HRES 822 IH 
Whereas the wetland habitats of the Refuge are populated by 
reptiles, fish, and amphibians; 
Whereas pollinators thrive in the shrublands and grasslands 
of the Refuge, including 13 species of bumblebees; 
Whereas other species that call the Refuge home include rac-
coons, black bears, coyotes, skunks, beavers, red foxes, 
river otters, bobcats, porcupines, muskrats, and minks; 
Whereas many of these animals are protected by the State 
of Vermont as threatened or endangered, such as the 
black tern and eastern sand darter; 
Whereas more than 80,000 visitors travel to the Refuge an-
nually to partake in hiking, birding, fishing, boating, and 
hunting; 
Whereas visitors to the Refuge travel from all 50 states and 
multiple foreign countries to appreciate the beauty and 
biodiversity of the Refuge; 
Whereas the Refuge provides a valuable educational and in-
terpretive resource for visitors and neighboring commu-
nities; 
Whereas the experience in nature while visiting the Refuge 
fosters a spiritual connection between people and the land 
they inhabit; 
Whereas the Refuge and the natural environment of the 
State of Vermont support a vibrant outdoor recreation 
industry that has contributed billions of dollars to the 
State’s economy; 
Whereas archaeologists have documented a cultural heritage 
in the Refuge dating back more than 5,000 years; and 
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
Abenaki community work in partnership to protect and 
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