Title: Recognizing the significance of the California Waterfowl Association on its 75th anniversary.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
This bill recognizes the significance of the California Waterfowl Association on its 75th anniversary and the benefits of its work for California's waterfowl, wetlands, and public enjoyment of those waterfowl and wetlands.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 477 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 477

Recognizing the significance of the California Waterfowl Association on 
                         its 75th anniversary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 15, 2021

 Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Issa, Mrs. 
 Napolitano, Mr. Huffman, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Costa, Mr. 
 Vargas, and Mr. DeSaulnier) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the significance of the California Waterfowl Association on 
                         its 75th anniversary.

Whereas the California Waterfowl Association is celebrating its 75th anniversary 
        and it is appropriate at this time to highlight its many achievements 
        and underscore the positive impact it has made on the State of 
        California;
Whereas the California Waterfowl Association was formed in 1945 by duck hunters 
        concerned about the growing need for waterfowl conservation efforts in 
        California;
Whereas, at the time, California had lost approximately 90 percent of its 
        original wetlands, yet relatively few public or private resources were 
        being invested to address this impact and there was also no collective 
        voice advocating specifically on behalf of California's waterfowl and 
        wetland resources;
Whereas, today, the California Waterfowl Association is the largest State-based 
        waterfowl group in the United States, with about 21,000 members;
Whereas the California Waterfowl Association's vision is a California with 
        thriving waterfowl populations, vibrant wetland ecosystems, and 
        respected hunting communities;
Whereas its approach to conservation is to rely on science and work 
        cooperatively with private landowners, State and Federal resource 
        agencies, and other partners in order to achieve ecological benefits for 
        both wildlife and people;
Whereas, in the last three decades, the California Waterfowl Association has 
        completed more than 1,400 individual projects to protect, restore, and 
        enhance almost 700,000 acres of wetlands and other waterfowl habitat, 
        benefiting both game and nongame species;
Whereas, recognizing the critical role that agriculture plays in California, the 
        association works to promote wildlife-friendly farming practices, 
        including a new delayed wheat harvest incentive program that gives 
        ground-nesting birds the chance to hatch their broods and leave the 
        field before harvest;
Whereas the California Waterfowl Association's Wood Duck Program has hatched 
        more than 890,000 ducklings, while its banding program has marked over 
        270,000 waterfowl, and has begun fitting ducks and geese with GPS 
        transmitters to support cutting-edge research;
Whereas its education programs have reached almost 320,000 children, young 
        adults, and families to help to create a better understanding of 
        biology, conservation, and the outdoors;
Whereas its hunting education programs help train adults and children alike to 
        become responsible hunter-conservationists, and nurture their pursuits 
        in the field and marsh in hopes they will develop a lasting passion for 
        the outdoors that will be passed to the next generation;
Whereas its legislative and regulatory work occurs at both the State and Federal 
        levels, and has helped to protect wetlands from development, secure 
        funding for wetland and waterfowl management purposes, enhance 
        enforcement of fish and game laws, and expand waterfowl hunting and 
        other outdoor opportunities for the public, amongst others; and
Whereas the California Waterfowl Association currently owns wetland properties 
        in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Marsh, Butte Sink, and 
        Tulare Basin, and these properties are not only managed to maximize 
        wildlife habitat values, but are also open to public use and education: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
significance of the California Waterfowl Association on its 75th 
anniversary, and the benefits of its work for California's waterfowl 
populations, wetlands, and public enjoyment thereof.
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