Title: Encouraging observance of National Wildlife Refuge Week with appropriate events and activities, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Encourages the observance of National Wildlife Refuge Week.
Acknowledges the importance of national wildlife refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution to local economies.
Reaffirms support for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 560 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 560

     Encouraging observance of National Wildlife Refuge Week with 
       appropriate events and activities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 5, 2017

Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Wittman, Mr. 
  Kind, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Heck, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. 
   Dingell, Mr. Lipinski, Ms. Norton, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Pingree, Mr. 
 Kihuen, Ms. Lee, Mr. Walz, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Vela, Mr. Panetta, Mr. 
   Raskin, Mr. Costa, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Connolly, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. 
  Carbajal, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Polis, Mr. 
  Blumenauer, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Sablan, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Kildee, Mr. 
Huffman, and Ms. Lofgren) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Encouraging observance of National Wildlife Refuge Week with 
       appropriate events and activities, and for other purposes.

Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national 
        wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas, in 2017, the National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the 
        United States Fish and Wildlife Service, is the premier system of lands 
        and waters to conserve wildlife in the world and has grown to 
        approximately 836,000,000 acres, 566 national wildlife refuges, and 38 
        wetland management districts located in every State and territory of the 
        United States;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism 
        destinations in communities across the United States, and this protected 
        land offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including six 
        wildlife-dependent uses that the National Wildlife Refuge System 
        manages: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, 
        environmental education, and interpretation;
Whereas, in 2017, 373 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting 
        programs and 310 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have 
        fishing programs, averaging more than 2,400,000 hunting visits and 
        nearly 6,900,000 fishing visits each year;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System experienced more than 31,400,000 
        wildlife observation visits during fiscal year 2016;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway 
        communities;
Whereas for every $1 appropriated, national wildlife refuges generate nearly $5 
        in economic activity;
Whereas visitation to the National Wildlife Refuge System increased by nearly 30 
        percent from 2006 to 2016;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System experiences over 50,000,000 visits 
        each year, which generate more than $2,400,000,000 from sales and 35,000 
        jobs in local economies;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses every kind of ecosystem 
        in the United States, including temperate, tropical, and boreal forests; 
        wetlands; deserts; grasslands; arctic tundras; and remote islands, and 
        spans 12 time zones from the Virgin Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are home to more than 700 species of birds, 
        220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more 
        than 1,000 species of fish;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal land that fosters 
        production, migration, and wintering habitat for waterfowl;
Whereas, since 1934, the sale of the Federal Duck Stamp to outdoor enthusiasts 
        has generated more than $850,000,000 in funds, which has enabled the 
        purchase or lease of more than 5,700,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl 
        and numerous other species in the National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened 
        species and endangered species;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger 
        landscapes and resources for other agencies of the Federal Government 
        and State governments, private landowners, and organizations in efforts 
        to secure the wildlife heritage of the United States;
Whereas more than 40,000 volunteers and approximately 200 national wildlife 
        refuge ``Friends'' organizations contribute more than 1,350,000 
        volunteer hours annually, the equivalent of nearly 650 full-time 
        employees, and provide an important link to local communities;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children 
        to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;
Whereas because there are national wildlife refuges located in several urban and 
        suburban areas and there is a refuge located within a one-hour drive of 
        every metropolitan area in the United States, national wildlife refuges 
        employ, educate, and engage young people from all backgrounds in 
        exploring, connecting with, and preserving 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 
        October;
Whereas the week beginning on October 8, 2017, has been designated as ``National 
        Wildlife Refuge Week'' by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
        and
Whereas the encouragement by the House of Representatives of the observance of 
        National Wildlife Refuge Week would recognize more than a century of 
        conservation in the United States, raise awareness about the importance 
        of wildlife and the National Wildlife Refuge System, and celebrate the 
        myriad recreational opportunities available to enjoy this network of 
        protected lands: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) encourages the observance of National Wildlife Refuge 
        Week with appropriate events and activities;
            (2) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife 
        refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution 
        to local economies across the United States;
            (3) pronounces that national wildlife refuges play a vital 
        role in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United 
        States for future generations;
            (4) identifies the significance of national wildlife 
        refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation, 
        photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
            (5) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges 
        to wildlife conservation and the protection of imperiled 
        species and ecosystems, as well as compatible uses;
            (6) acknowledges the role of national wildlife refuges in 
        conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habitat pursuant to the 
        Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.);
            (7) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives 
        for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge 
        System; and
            (8) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives--
                    (A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
                    (B) to oversee the National Wildlife Refuge System 
                for current and future generations.
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