,,iii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #eef ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ag 7legislative day1 ,september #af71 #bjad,mr4 ,coons 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,sessions1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,udall of ,new ,mexico1 ,ms4 ,landrieu1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mr4 ,levin1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 and ,ms4 ,collins7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,designating the week beginning on ,october #ab1 #bjad1 as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,whereas1 in #aijc1 ,president ,theodore ,roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,island in ,florida2 ,whereas1 in #bjad1 the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system1 administered by the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 is the premier system of lands and waters to conserve wildlife in the world1 and has grown to approximately #aej1jjj1jjj acres1 #efb national wildlife refuges1 and #ch wetland management districts in every ,state and territory of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism destinations in communities across the ,united ,states1 and these protected lands offer a variety of recreational opportunities1 including #f wildlife-dependent uses that the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system manages3 hunting1 fishing1 wildlife observation1 photography1 environmental education1 and interpretation2 ,whereas1 in #bjad1 #cce units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system have hunting programs and #bga units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system have fishing programs1 averaging approximately #b1ejj1jjj hunting visits and nearly #g1jjj1jjj fishing visits each year2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system experienced nearly #ca1jjj1jjj wildlife observation visits during fiscal year #bjac2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway communities2 ,whereas1 for every #a appropriated1 national wildlife refuges generate nearly #e in economic activity2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system experiences over #dg1jjj1jjj visits each year1 which generated more than #b1djj1jjj1jjj and more than #ce1jjj jobs in local economies during fiscal year #bjaa2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system encompasses every kind of ecosystem in the ,united ,states1 including temperate1 tropical1 and boreal forests1 wetlands1 deserts1 grasslands1 arctic tundras1 and remote islands1 and spans #ab time zones from the ,virgin ,islands to ,guam2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are home to more than #gjj species of birds1 #bbj species of mammals1 #bej species of reptiles and amphibians1 and more than #a1jjj species of fish2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary ,federal lands that foster production1 migration1 and wintering habitat for waterfowl2 ,whereas1 since #aicd1 the sale of the ,federal ,duck ,stamp to outdoor enthusiasts has generated more than #hej1jjj1jjj in funds1 which has enabled the purchase or lease of more than #e1fjj1jjj acres of wetland habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 ,whereas the recovery of #chf threatened and endangered species is supported on refuge lands2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger landscapes and resources for other agencies of the ,federal ,government and ,state governments1 private landowners1 and organizations in their efforts to secure the wildlife heritage of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas more than #ch1jjj volunteers and approximately #bbj national wildlife refuge ,friends organizations contribute more than #a1djj1jjj hours annually1 the equivalent of more than #gjj full-time employees1 and provide an important link to local communities2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world2 ,whereas1 because there are national wildlife refuges located in several urban and suburban areas and one refuge located within an hour drive of every metropolitan area in the ,united ,states1 national wildlife refuges employ1 educate1 and engage young people from all backgrounds in exploring1 connecting with1 and preserving the natural heritage of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 since #aiie1 refuges across the ,united ,states have held festivals1 educational programs1 guided tours1 and other events to celebrate ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week during the second full week of ,october2 ,whereas the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service will continue to seek stakeholder input on the implementation of ,conserving the ,future3 ,wildlife ,refuges and the ,next ,generation1 an update to the strategic plan of the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service for the future of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 ,whereas the week beginning on ,october #ab1 #bjad1 has been designated as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 and ,whereas the designation of ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by the ,senate would recognize more than a century of conservation in the ,united ,states1 raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system1 and celebrate the myriad recreational opportunities available to enjoy this network of protected lands3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates the week beginning on ,october #ab1 #bjad1 as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 7#b7 encourages the observance of ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week with appropriate events and activities2 7#c7 acknowledges the importance of national wildlife refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution to local economies across the ,united ,states2 7#d7 pronounces that national wildlife refuges play a vital role in securing the hunting and fishing heritage of the ,united ,states for future generations2 7#e7 identifies the significance of national wildlife refuges in advancing the traditions of wildlife observation1 photography1 environmental education1 and interpretation2 7#f7 recognizes the importance of national wildlife refuges to wildlife conservation and the protection of imperiled species and ecosystems1 as well as compatible uses2 7#g7 acknowledges the role of national wildlife refuges in conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habitat pursuant to the ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#dj ,stat4 #gee1 chapter #abh72 7#h7 reaffirms the support of the ,senate for wildlife conservation and the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 and 7#i7 expresses the intent of the ,senate-- 7,a7 to continue working to conserve wildlife2 and 7,b7 to manage the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system for current and future generations4