,,iv #aae? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #aabb ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,octob] #ab1 #bjah,mr4 ,?ompson ( ,cali=nia 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,k9d1 ,mr4 ,lo,biondo1 & ,mr4 ,wittman7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural ,res\rces ,,resolution ,express+ support = ! designation ( ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #ad1 #bjah1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,:]eas1 9 #aijc1 ,presid5t ,!odore ,roosevelt e/abli%$ ! fir/ national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,isl& 9 ,florida2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjah1 ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em1 adm9i/]$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice1 is ! premi] sy/em ( l& & wat] to cons]ve wildlife 9 ! _w & has gr[n to approximately #hcf1jjj1jjj acres1 #efg national wildlife refuges1 & #ch wetl& managem5t di/ricts locat$ 9 e ,/ate & t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important recreational & t\rism de/9ations 9 communities across ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ?is protect$ l& (f]s a v>iety ( recreational opportunities1 includ+ #f wildlife-dep5d5t uses t ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em manages1 specifically hunt+1 fi%+1 wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em exp]i5ces m ?an #ec1jjj1jjj visits ea* ye>1 :i* g5]ate m ?an #b1djj1jjj1jjj 9 sales & #ce1jjj jobs 9 local economies2 ,:]eas visitation to ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em 9- creas$ by ne>ly #cj p]c5t f #bjjf to #bjag2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjah1 #cgg units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h hunt+ programs & #cab units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h fi%+ programs1 av]ag+ m ?an #b1djj1jjj hunt+ visits & m ?an #g1cjj1jjj fi%+ visits ea* ye>2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em exp]i5c$ m ?an #ca1djj1jjj wildlife obs]vation visits dur+ fiscal ye> #bjag2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important to local bus9esses & gateway communities2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em encompasses e k9d ( ecosy/em 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ temp]ate1 tropical & boreal =e/s1 wetl&s1 des]ts1 grassl&s1 arctic tundras1 & remote isl&s1 & spans #ab "t zones f ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,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 on :i* ! production1 migration1 & w9t]+ habitat = wat]f[l are fo/]$2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #aicd1 ! sale ( ! ,f$]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 #e1gjj1jjj acres ( habitat = wat]f[l & num]\s o!r species 9 ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 ,:]eas refuges provide protection to m ?an #chj ?reat5$ & endang]$ species2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are cores ( cons]vation = l>g] l&scapes & res\rces = o!r ag5cies ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 ,/ate gov]nm5ts1 private l&[n]s1 & organizations 9 ef=ts to secure ! wildlife h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas m ?an #ch1jjj volunte]s & approximately #bjj national wildlife refuge ,fri5ds organizations contribute m ?an #a1cej1jjj volunte] h\rs annually1 ! equival5t ( #fej 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 ,:]eas !re are national wildlife refuges locat$ 9 sev]al urban & suburban areas & !re is a refuge locat$ )9 a #a-;h\r drive ( e metropolitan area 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* has enabl$ national wildlife refuges to 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 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice has designat$ ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #ad1 #bjah1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 & ,:]eas ! designation ( ,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 = ! enjoym5t ( ?is network ( protect$ l&s3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 supports ! designation ( ,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 f9ds 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]vation1 ! protection ( imp]il$ species & ecosy/ems1 & compatible uses2 7#g7 ackn[l$ges ! role ( national wildlife refuges 9 cons]v+ wat]f[l & wat]f[l habitat "u ! ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc et seq472 7#h7 reaffirms ! support ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives = wildlife cons]vation & ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 & 7#i7 expresses ! int5t ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7,a7 to cont9ue work+ to cons]ve wildlife2 & 7,b7 to manage ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em = curr5t & future g5]ations4