Title: Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2019, to October 31, 2019, as "BatWeek".
Policy area: Animals

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of BatWeek and acknowledges the important role bats play as pollinators and pest control for agriculture.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 663 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 663

Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2019, 
                  to October 31, 2019, as ``BatWeek''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 30, 2019

Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Welch) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                              Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2019, 
                  to October 31, 2019, as ``BatWeek''.

Whereas bats are vital to the sustainability of natural ecosystems, national 
        economies, and human health by controlling damaging insect pests, 
        pollinating plants such as fruits and vegetables, and dispersing seeds 
        to ensure healthy functioning ecosystems, and research suggests that 
        bats save American farmers more than $3 billion in pest control every 
        year;
Whereas bats have captured the human imagination through backyard sightings, 
        folklore, myths, and legends, and outreach and education about the 
        importance of bats are instrumental;
Whereas bats are present throughout the world, except in extremely cold regions, 
        and are the second-largest order of mammals with over 1,300 species;
Whereas a deadly fungus causing white-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed 
        millions of bats in North America, has now spread to 38 States;
Whereas the disease has been confirmed in 12 species of hibernating bats in the 
        United States and is the primary cause for the significant decline in 
        populations of several bat species, especially the tricolored bat, the 
        little brown bat, and the federally threatened northern long-eared bat;
Whereas the Department of the Interior's participation through the United States 
        Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Geological Survey, National 
        Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, is leading the 
        international response to the disease in partnership with more than 100 
        Federal and State agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and 
        universities;
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is supporting a White-nose 
        Syndrome Challenge for ideas toward solutions that can help disarm or 
        weaken Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose 
        syndrome disease of hibernating bats;
Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has entered into an 
        agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish a 
        ``Bats for the Future Fund'' to raise private funds to curtail the 
        spread of white-nose syndrome and speed the recovery of bat populations; 
        and
Whereas in the past decade, the international response to white-nose syndrome 
        has made extraordinary progress to understand the disease, slow the 
        spread, and develop treatments that hold promise for defeating this 
        epidemic, and therefore it is critical for new public-private 
        partnerships to defeat the disease: 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) has the intent to--
                    (A) continue working to conserve bat species and 
                habitat; and
                    (B) work to defeat the disease known as white-nose 
                syndrome.
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