,,iv #aad? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #hhb ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,septemb] #bb1 #bjaf,mr4 ,?ompson ( ,cali=nia 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,k9d1 ,mr4 ,lo,biondo1 ,mr4 ,blum5au]1 ,ms4 ,ca/or ( ,florida1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,mr4 ,co/ello ( ,p5nsylvania1 ,mrs4 ,d+ell1 ,ms4 ,e%oo1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,mr4 ,ha/+s1 ,mr4 ,israel1 ,mr4 ,kildee1 ,mr4 ,l>s5 ( ,wa%+ton1 ,ms4 ,lee1 ,ms4 ,l(gr51 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 ,mr4 ,pallone1 ,mr4 ,p]lmutt]1 ,mr4 ,sablan1 ,mr4 ,walz1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 ,mr4 ,heck ( ,wa%+ton1 ,ms4 ,mi*elle ,lujan ,gri%am ( ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,mr4 ,kilm]1 & ,ms4 ,kaptur7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural ,res\rces ,,resolution ,enc\rag+ ! obs]vance ( ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #i1 #bjaf1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,:]eas 9 #aijc1 ,presid5t ,!odore ,roosevelt e/abli%$ ! fir/ national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,isl& 9 ,florida2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em1 adm9i/]$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice1 is ! premi] sy/em ( l&s & wat]s to cons]ve wildlife 9 ! _w & has gr[n to encompass #efe national wildlife refuges1 #ch wetl& managem5t di/ricts1 & #e m>9e national monum5ts 9 e ,/ate & t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 total+ approximately #hcf1jjj1jjj acres2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important de/9ations = recreation & t\rism 9 communities across ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & ^! protect$ l&s (f] a v>iety ( recreational opportunities1 includ+ six wildlife-dep5d5t uses t ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em manages3 hunt+1 fi%+1 wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 ,:]eas1 #cfd units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h hunt+ programs & #cjc units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h fi%+ programs1 av]ag+ m ?an #b1djj1jjj hunt+ visits & ne>ly #f1hjj1jjj fi%+ visits ea* ye>2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em exp]i5c$ m ?an #cj1hjj1jjj wildlife obs]vation visits dur+ fiscal ye> #bjae2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important to local bus9esses & gateway communities2 ,:]eas1 = e #a4jj appropriat$ = national wildlife refuges1 ne>ly #e4jj 9 economic activity is g5]at$2 ,:]eas visitation to ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em increas$ by ne>ly #cj p]c5t betwe5 #bjje & #bjae2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em exp]i5ces ov] #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 ,/amps to outdoor en?usia/s has g5]at$ m ?an #hej1jjj1jjj1 :i* has enabl$ ! pur*ase or lease ( m ?an #e1gjj1jjj acres ( habitat = wat]f[l & o!r species 9 ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges provide protection to m ?an #chj ?reat5$ & endang]$ species2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are cores ( cons]vation = l>g] l&scapes & a means = ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 ,/ate gov]nm5ts1 private l&[n]s1 & organizations to secure ! wildlife h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas m ?an #cf1jjj volunte]s & approximately #bjj nonpr(it organizations designat$ z national wildlife refuge 8,fri5ds0 gr\ps contribute m ?an #a1djj1jjj h\rs annually to pres]v+ ! national wildlife refuges1 ! equival5t ( ne>ly #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 !re are national wildlife refuges locat$ 9 bo? urban & suburban areas & a national wildlife refuge locat$ )9 an h\r drive ( e metropolitan area 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas 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 national wildlife 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 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice w cont9ue to seek /akehold] input on ! implem5tation ( 8,cons]v+ ! ,future3 ,wildlife ,refuges & ! ,next ,g5]ation01 an update to ! /rategic plan ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice = ! future ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 ,:]eas ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #i1 #bjaf1 has be5 designat$ z 8,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week0 by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice2 & ,:]eas ! obs]vance ( ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives 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 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 enc\rages ! obs]vance ( 8,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week0 ) appropriate ev5ts & activities2 7#b7 ackn[l$ges ! importance ( national wildlife refuges = _! recreational opportunities & contribution to local economies across ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#c7 pron\nces t national wildlife refuges play a vital role 9 secur+ ! hunt+ & fi%+ h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = future g5]ations2 7#d7 id5tifies ! significance ( national wildlife refuges 9 advanc+ ! traditions ( wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 7#e7 recognizes ! importance ( national wildlife refuges to wildlife cons]vation & ! protection ( imp]il$ species & ecosy/ems2 7#f7 ackn[l$ges ! role ( national wildlife refuges 9 cons]v+ wat]f[l & wat]f[l habitat pursuant to ! ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc et seq472 7#g7 reaffirms ! support ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives = wildlife cons]vation & ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 & 7#h7 expresses ! int5t ( ! ,h\se-- 7,a7 to cont9ue work+ to cons]ve wildlife2 & 7,b7 to support ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em = curr5t & future g5]ations4