,,iii #aac? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bif ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,novemb] #ad1 #bjac,mr4 ,coons 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,mr4 ,sessions1 & ,mr4 ,s*atz7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ & agre$ to ,,resolution ,designat+ ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #ac1 #bjac1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,:]eas1 9 #aijc1 ,presid5t ,!odore ,roosevelt e/abli%$ ! fir/ national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,isl& 9 ,florida2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjac1 ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em1 adm9i/]$ by ! ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice1 is ! premi] sy/em ( l&s & wat]s to cons]ve wildlife 9 ! _w1 & has gr[n to approximately #aej1jjj1jjj acres1 #efa national wildlife refuges1 & #ch wetl& managem5t di/ricts 9 e ,/ate & t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important recreational & t\rism de/9ations 9 communities across ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & ^! protect$ l&s (f] a v>iety ( recreational opportunities1 includ+ #f wildlife-dep5d5t uses t ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em manages3 hunt+1 fi%+1 wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjac1 #cfd units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h hunt+ programs & #cjc units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h fi%+ programs1 av]ag+ approximately #b1ejj1jjj hunt+ visits & ne>ly #g1jjj1jjj fi%+ visits ea* ye>2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em exp]i5c$ ne>ly #ca1jjj1jjj wildlife obs]vation visits dur+ fiscal ye> #bjac2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important to local bus9esses & gateway communities2 ,:]eas1 = e #a appropriat$1 national wildlife refuges g5]ate ne>ly #e 9 economic activity2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em exp]i5ces ne>ly #dg1jjj1jjj visits ea* ye>1 :i* g5]at$ m ?an #b1djj1jjj1jjj & m ?an #ce1jjj jobs 9 local economies dur+ fiscal ye> #bjaa2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em encompasses e k9d ( ecosy/em 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ temp]ate1 tropical1 & boreal =e/s1 wetl&s1 des]ts1 grassl&s1 arctic tundras1 & remote isl&s1 & spans #ab "t zones f ! ,virg9 ,isl&s to ,guam2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are home to m ?an #gjj species ( birds1 #bbj species ( mammals1 #bej species ( reptiles & amphibians1 & m ?an #a1jjj species ( fi%2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are ! prim>y ,f$]al l&s t fo/] production1 migration1 & w9t]+ habitat = wat]f[l2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #aicd1 ! sale ( ! ,f$]al ,duck ,/amp to outdoor en?usia/s has g5]at$ m ?an #hej1jjj1jjj 9 funds1 :i* has enabl$ ! pur*ase or lease ( m ?an #e1ejj1jjj acres ( wetl& habitat = wat]f[l & num]\s o!r species 9 ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 ,:]eas ! recov]y ( #chf ?reat5$ & endang]$ species is support$ on refuge l&s2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are cores ( cons]vation = l>g] l&scapes & res\rces = o!r ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t & ,/ate gov]nm5ts1 private l&[n]s1 & organizations 9 _! ef=ts to secure ! wildlife h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas m ?an #ch1jjj volunte]s & approximately #bbj national wildlife refuge ,fri5ds organizations contribute m ?an #a1djj1jjj h\rs annually1 ! equival5t ( m ?an #gjj full-"t employees1 & provide an important l9k to local communities2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity = *ildr5 to discov] & ga9 a great] appreciation = ! natural _w2 ,:]eas1 because !re are national wildlife refuges locat$ 9 sev]al urban & suburban areas & "o refuge locat$ )9 an h\r drive ( e metropolitan area 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 national wildlife refuges employ1 educate1 & engage "y p f all backgr\nds 9 explor+1 connect+ )1 & pres]v+ ! natural h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #aiie1 refuges across ! ,unit$ ,/ates h held fe/ivals1 educational programs1 guid$ t\rs1 & o!r ev5ts to celebrate ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week dur+ ! second full week ( ,octob]2 ,:]eas ! ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice w cont9ue to seek /akehold] input on ! implem5tation ( ,cons]v+ ! ,future3 ,wildlife ,refuges & ! ,next ,g5]ation1 an update to ! /rategic plan ( ! ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice = ! future ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 ,:]eas ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #ac1 #bjac1 has be5 designat$ z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by ! ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice2 & ,:]eas ! designation ( ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by ! ,s5ate w\ld recognize m ?an a c5tury ( cons]vation 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 raise aw>5ess ab\t ! importance ( wildlife & ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em1 & celebrate ! myriad recreational opportunities available to enjoy ?is network ( protect$ l&s3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 designates ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #ac1 #bjac1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 7#b7 enc\rages ! obs]vance ( ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week ) appropriate ev5ts & activities2 7#c7 ackn[l$ges ! importance ( national wildlife refuges = _! recreational opportunities & contribution to local economies across ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#d7 pron\nces t national wildlife refuges play a vital role 9 secur+ ! hunt+ & fi%+ h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = future g5]ations2 7#e7 id5tifies ! significance ( national wildlife refuges 9 advanc+ ! traditions ( wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 7#f7 recognizes ! importance ( national wildlife refuges to wildlife cons]vation & ! protection ( imp]il$ species & ecosy/ems1 z well z compatible uses2 7#g7 ackn[l$ges ! role ( national wildlife refuges 9 cons]v+ wat]f[l & wat]f[l habitat pursuant to ! ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#dj ,/at4 #gee1 *apt] #abh72 7#h7 reaffirms ! support ( ! ,s5ate = wildlife cons]vation & ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 & 7#i7 expresses ! int5t ( ! ,s5ate-- 7,a7 to cont9ue work+ to cons]ve wildlife2 & 7,b7 to manage ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em = curr5t & future g5]ations4