119-hres820

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 820 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 820

 Supporting the designation of the week beginning on October 12, 2025, 
 as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 October 17, 2025

 Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Ms. Stansbury, 
Mr. Vasquez, and Ms. Tokuda) submitted the following resolution; which 
 was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Supporting the designation of the week beginning on October 12, 2025, 
 as ``National Wildlife Refuge Week''.

Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service administers the National 
 Wildlife Refuge System to conserve, manage, and, where appropriate, 
 restore fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within 
 the United States for the benefit of current and future generations;
Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national 
 wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered by the United States 
 Fish and Wildlife Service and has grown to include 573 national wildlife 
 refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and 5 marine national 
 monuments with units located in every State and territory of the United 
 States;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses more than 850,000,000 
 acres of unique habitats and ecosystems, including tropical and boreal 
 forests, wetlands, deserts, grasslands, arctic tundras, remote islands, 
 and marine areas, and spans 12 time zones from the United States Virgin 
 Islands to Guam;
Whereas national wildlife refuges support approximately 800 species of birds, 
 220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 
 1,100 species of fish;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened 
 species and endangered species;
Whereas more than 65 national wildlife refuges were established to conserve 
 species considered to be threatened or endangered under Federal 
 standards, including the American crocodile, California condor, Devil's 
 Hole pupfish, and Antioch Dunes evening primrose;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal lands that support 
 waterfowl habitat;
Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund has generated more 
 than $2,200,000,000 and enabled the conservation of approximately 
 6,400,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in 
 the National Wildlife Refuge System;
Whereas national wildlife refuges protect and conserve climate-resilient 
 habitats that support biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions;
Whereas more than 180 national wildlife refuges conserve marine, coastal, and 
 Great Lakes habitats, helping to protect communities by reducing the 
 risk of storm-surge flooding, especially in low-lying floodplain and 
 coastal areas;
Whereas many national wildlife refuges are managed to reduce wildfire risk by 
 thinning overgrown forests and removing invasive species;
Whereas meaningful engagement and proactive collaboration with Tribes, Alaska 
 Native Corporations, Alaska Native organizations, and the Native 
 Hawaiian community is an integral aspect of the co-stewardship of our 
 shared natural resources, including National Wildlife Refuge System 
 lands and waters;
Whereas important cultural and historic resources are protected on national 
 wildlife refuges, including--

    (1) archaeological sites detailing the lives of Native Americans and 
early colonists at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in 
Virginia;

    (2) World War II sites in the Pacific, from Attu in Alaska to Midway 
Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and

    (3) the remains of the home of the father of Harriet Tubman at 
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland;

Whereas Tribal consultation is a cornerstone of historic preservation on 
 national wildlife refuges where cultural resources and traditional 
 sacred spaces are important to Native American Tribes, including 
 Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, where the Nuwuvi people 
 finalized a plan with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to 
 respect and showcase ancient petroglyphs;
Whereas national wildlife refuges use a range of management tools, including 
 fire management, invasive species control, water management, wildlife 
 health assessments, inventory and monitoring species, facility condition 
 assessments, 5-year infrastructure project plans, and other tools to 
 conserve habitat and ensure opportunities for public access and 
 recreation;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism 
 destinations in communities across the United States, and offer a 
 variety of recreational opportunities, including sustainable hunting and 
 fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and 
 interpretation;
Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives nearly 71,000,000 annual 
 visits which--

    (1) generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies; and

    (2) support 41,000 jobs;

Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System hosts nearly 44,000,000 annual 
 birding and wildlife observation visits;
Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway 
 communities;
Whereas, for every dollar appropriated to the National Wildlife Refuge System, 
 an average of approximately 5 dollars is returned to local economies;
Whereas more than 430 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting 
 programs and more than 375 units have fishing programs which support, 
 respectively, more than 2,700,000 hunting visits and more than 8,400,000 
 fishing visits annually;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children 
 to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;
Whereas, in fiscal year 2025, nearly 24,000 volunteers contributed approximately 
 886,000 volunteer hours in national wildlife refuges, which is equal to 
 the number of hours worked by 425 full-time employees;
Whereas approximately 180 national wildlife refuge ``Friends'' organizations 
 provide additional volunteer labor and serve as an important link 
 between national wildlife refuges and local communities;
Whereas 101 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System are within 25 miles of 
 population centers of 250,000 people or more;
Whereas, through the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program, the United States Fish 
 and Wildlife Service works to dismantle barriers that have blocked 
 underserved communities from full and equal participation in outdoor 
 recreation and wildlife conservation;
Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program fosters strong new conservation 
 coalitions, educates and employs youth, engages communities, builds 
 trust in government, and connects individuals with nature;
Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for people from all 
 backgrounds to explore, connect with, and preserve 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 United States Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the week 
 beginning on October 12, 2025, 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) recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges 
 to wildlife conservation, the protection of imperiled species 
 and ecosystems, and wildlife-dependent recreational uses;

    (4) acknowledges the importance of national wildlife 
 refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution 
 to local economies across the United States;

    (5) identifies the significance of national wildlife 
 refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation, 
 photography, and interpretation, as well as environmental 
 education;

    (6) finds that national wildlife refuges play a vital role 
 in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the United 
 States for future generations;

    (7) recognizes the important work of urban national 
 wildlife refuges in welcoming racially and ethnically diverse 
 urban communities that were long excluded, including work--
        (A) to foster strong new conservation coalitions;
        (B) to provide education and employment 
 opportunities to youth;
            (C) to improve communities;
            (D) to build trust in government; and
        (E) to connect individuals with nature;

    (8) recognizes the commitment of the National Wildlife 
 Refuge System to engagement, relationships, knowledge-sharing, 
 and co-stewardship of National Wildlife Refuge System lands and 
 waters with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native 
 organizations, and the Native Hawaiian community;

    (9) 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.);

    (10) reaffirms the support of the House of Representatives 
 for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge 
 System; and

    (11) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives--
        (A) to continue working to conserve wildlife; and
        (B) to support the management by the United States 
 Fish and Wildlife Service of the National Wildlife 
 Refuge System for current and future generations.
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