,,iv #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #aabb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #ab1 #bjah,mr4 ,thompson of ,california 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kind1 ,mr4 ,lo,biondo1 and ,mr4 ,wittman7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,,resolution ,expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on ,october #ad1 #bjah1 as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,whereas1 in #aijc1 ,president ,theodore ,roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,island in ,florida2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system1 administered by the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 is the premier system of land and water to conserve wildlife in the world and has grown to approximately #hcf1jjj1jjj acres1 #efg national wildlife refuges1 and #ch wetland management districts located in every ,state and territory of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism destinations in communities across the ,united ,states and this protected land offers a variety of recreational opportunities1 including #f wildlife-dependent uses that the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system manages1 specifically hunting1 fishing1 wildlife observation1 photography1 environmental education1 and interpretation2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system experiences more than #ec1jjj1jjj visits each year1 which generate more than #b1djj1jjj1jjj in sales and #ce1jjj jobs in local economies2 ,whereas visitation to the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system in- creased by nearly #cj percent from #bjjf to #bjag2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 #cgg units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system have hunting programs and #cab units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system have fishing programs1 averaging more than #b1djj1jjj hunting visits and more than #g1cjj1jjj fishing visits each year2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system experienced more than #ca1djj1jjj wildlife observation visits during fiscal year #bjag2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway communities2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system encompasses every kind of ecosystem in the ,united ,states1 including temperate1 tropical and boreal forests1 wetlands1 deserts1 grasslands1 arctic tundras1 and remote islands1 and spans #ab time zones from the ,united ,states ,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 on which the production1 migration1 and wintering habitat for waterfowl are fostered2 ,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 #e1gjj1jjj acres of habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 ,whereas refuges provide protection to more than #chj threatened and endangered species2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are cores of conservation for larger landscapes and resources for other agencies of the ,federal ,government1 ,state governments1 private landowners1 and organizations in efforts to secure the wildlife heritage of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas more than #ch1jjj volunteers and approximately #bjj national wildlife refuge ,friends organizations contribute more than #a1cej1jjj volunteer hours annually1 the equivalent of #fej 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 ,whereas there are national wildlife refuges located in several urban and suburban areas and there is a refuge located within a #a-;hour drive of every metropolitan area in the ,united ,states1 which has enabled national wildlife refuges to 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 ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service has designated the week beginning on ,october #ad1 #bjah1 as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 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 ,states1 raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system1 and celebrate the myriad recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this network of protected lands3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 supports the designation of ,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 finds 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 conservation1 the protection of imperiled species and ecosystems1 and compatible uses2 7#g7 acknowledges the role of national wildlife refuges in conserving waterfowl and waterfowl habitat under the ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc et seq472 7#h7 reaffirms the support of the ,house of ,representatives for wildlife conservation and the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 and 7#i7 expresses the intent of the ,house of ,representatives-- 7,a7 to continue working to conserve wildlife2 and 7,b7 to manage the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system for current and future generations4