National Bison Legacy Act
PL 114-152 (H.R.2908), enacted 05/09/2016

130 STAT. 373 
PUBLIC LAW 114–152—MAY 9, 2016 
Public Law 114–152 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To adopt the bison as the national mammal of the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Bison Legacy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) bison are considered a historical symbol of the United 
States; 
(2) bison were integrally linked with the economic and 
spiritual lives of many Indian tribes through trade and sacred 
ceremonies; 
(3) there are more than 60 Indian tribes participating 
in the Intertribal Buffalo Council; 
(4) numerous members of Indian tribes are involved in 
bison restoration on tribal land; 
(5) members of Indian tribes have a combined herd on 
more than 1,000,000 acres of tribal land; 
(6) the Intertribal Buffalo Council is a tribal organization 
incorporated pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 
1934 (commonly known as the ‘‘Indian Reorganization Act’’) 
(25 U.S.C. 477); 
(7) bison can play an important role in improving the 
types of grasses found in landscapes to the benefit of grasslands; 
(8) a small group of ranchers helped save bison from extinc-
tion in the late 1800s by gathering the remnants of the deci-
mated herds; 
(9) bison hold significant economic value for private pro-
ducers and rural communities; 
(10) according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture of the 
Department of Agriculture, as of 2012, 162,110 head of bison 
were under the stewardship of private producers, creating jobs 
and providing a sustainable and healthy meat source contrib-
uting to the food security of the United States; 
(11) on December 8, 1905, William Hornaday, Theodore 
Roosevelt, and others formed the American Bison Society in 
response to the near extinction of bison in the United States; 
(12) on October 11, 1907, the American Bison Society sent 
15 captive-bred bison from the New York Zoological Park, now 
known as the ‘‘Bronx Zoo’’, to the first wildlife refuge in the 
United States, which was known as the ‘‘Wichita Mountains 
Wildlife Refuge’’, resulting in the first successful reintroduction 
National Bison 
Legacy Act. 
36 USC 301 note 
prec. 
May 9, 2016 
[H.R. 2908] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:31 Jul 18, 2022
Jkt 059194
PO 00001
Frm 00371
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2016\PT1\59194PT1.001
59194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
130 STAT. 374 
PUBLIC LAW 114–152—MAY 9, 2016 
of a mammal species on the brink of extinction back into 
the natural habitat of the species; 
(13) in 2005, the American Bison Society was reestablished, 
bringing together bison ranchers, managers from Indian tribes, 
Federal and State agencies, conservation organizations, and 
natural and social scientists from the United States, Canada, 
and Mexico to create a vision for the North American bison 
in the 21st century; 
(14) there are bison herds in National Wildlife Refuges 
and National Parks; 
(15) there are bison in State-managed herds across 11 
States; 
(16) there is a growing effort to celebrate and officially 
recognize the historical, cultural, and economic significance of 
the North American bison to the heritage of the United States; 
(17) a bison is portrayed on 2 State flags; 
(18) the bison has been adopted by 3 States as the official 
mammal or animal of those States; 
(19) a bison has been depicted on the official seal of the 
Department of the Interior since 1912; 
(20) the buffalo nickel played an important role in modern-
izing the currency of the United States; 
(21) several sports teams have the bison as a mascot, 
which highlights the iconic significance of bison in the United 
States; 
(22) in the 2nd session of the 113th Congress, 22 Senators 
led a successful effort to enact a resolution to designate 
November 1, 2014, as the third annual National Bison Day; 
and 
(23) members of Indian tribes, bison producers, conserva-
tionists, sportsmen, educators, and other public and private 
partners have participated in the annual National Bison Day 
celebration at several events across the United States and 
are committed to continuing this tradition annually on the 
first Saturday of November. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADOPTION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN 
BISON AS THE NATIONAL MAMMAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The mammal commonly known as the ‘‘North 
American bison’’ is adopted as the national mammal of the United 
States. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act or the adop-
tion of the North American bison as the national mammal of the 
United States shall be construed or used as a reason to alter, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:31 Jul 18, 2022
Jkt 059194
PO 00001
Frm 00372
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2016\PT1\59194PT1.001
59194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
130 STAT. 375 
PUBLIC LAW 114–152—MAY 9, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2908 (S. 2032): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–483 (Comm. on Oversight and Government Reform). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 
Apr. 26, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 28, considered and passed Senate. 
change, modify, or otherwise affect any plan, policy, management 
decision, regulation, or other action by the Federal Government. 
Approved May 9, 2016. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:31 Jul 18, 2022
Jkt 059194
PO 00001
Frm 00373
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
G:\STATUTES\2016\PT1\59194PT1.001
59194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)