Title: Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October 13, 2019, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week.
The resolution acknowledges the importance of national wildlife refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution to local economies.
Finally, the resolution reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 628 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 628

Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October 
              13, 2019, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 15, 2019

  Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Kind, Mr. 
  Joyce of Ohio, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Miss Gonzalez-Colon of 
 Puerto Rico, Mr. Soto, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Vela, Mr. 
 Connolly, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. McNerney, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. 
 Costa, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Welch, Mr. Raskin, 
Ms. McCollum, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Khanna, and Mr. Grijalva) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on October 
              13, 2019, as National Wildlife Refuge Week.

Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national 
        wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas, in 2019, the National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the 
        United States Fish and Wildlife Service, is the premier system of land 
        and water to conserve wildlife in the world and has grown to 567 
        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 the six 
        wildlife-dependent uses of hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, 
        photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives more than 50,000,000 
        visitors annually, which generates more than $3,200,000,000 in sales and 
        41,000 jobs in local economies;
Whereas 382 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs 
        and 316 units have fishing programs that receive more than 2,000,000 
        hunting visits and more than 7,000,000 fishing visits annually;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System has hosted more than 30,000,000 
        wildlife observation visits in recent years;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway 
        communities;
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 United States 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 lands on which the 
        production, migration, and wintering habitat for waterfowl are fostered;
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which has been 
        largely funded from the sale of the Federal Duck Stamp to outdoor 
        enthusiasts, has generated more than $1,500,000,000 and enabled the 
        conservation of more than 5,900,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl and 
        numerous other species in the National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened and endangered 
        species;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger 
        landscapes and resources for other agencies of the Federal Government, 
        State governments, private landowners, and organizations in efforts to 
        secure the wildlife heritage of the United States;
Whereas more than 38,000 volunteers and almost 200 national wildlife refuge 
        ``Friends'' organizations contribute around 1,350,000 volunteer hours 
        annually, the equivalent of 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 there are national wildlife refuges located in several urban and 
        suburban areas and there is a refuge located within a 1-hour drive of 
        nearly every metropolitan area in the United States, which has enabled 
        national wildlife refuges to 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, 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 United States Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the week 
        beginning on October 13, 2019, as National Wildlife Refuge Week; and
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 National 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 Wildlife Refuge 
        Week;
            (2) encourages the observance of National Wildlife Refuge 
        Week with appropriate events and activities;
            (3) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife 
        refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution 
        to local economies across the United States;
            (4) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role 
        in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United 
        States for future generations;
            (5) identifies the significance of national wildlife 
        refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation, 
        photography, environmental education, and interpretation;
            (6) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges 
        to wildlife conservation, the protection of imperiled species 
        and ecosystems, and compatible uses;
            (7) acknowledges the role of national wildlife refuges in 
        conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habitat under the Migratory 
        Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.);
            (8) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives 
        for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge 
        System; and
            (9) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives--
                    (A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
                    (B) to manage the National Wildlife Refuge System 
                for current and future generations.
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