,,iv  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,h4 ,,res4 #aacf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(    
,,repres5tatives  ,octob] #bf1 #bjah,mr4
 ,?ompson ( ,p5nsylvania 7= himself &   
,mr4 ,wel*7 submitt$ ! foll[+           
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,agriculture  ,,resolution          
,express+ support = ! designation ( !   
week ( ,octob] #bd1 #bjah1 to ,octob]   
#ca1 #bjah1 z ,bat,week4  ,:]eas bats   
are vital to ! su/a9ability ( natural   
ecosy/ems1 national economies1 & human  
heal? by controll+ damag+ insect pe/s1  
poll9at+ plants1 su* z fruits &         
vegetables1 & disp]s+ se$s to ensure    
heal?y function+ ecosy/ems1 & rese>*    
sugge/s t bats c\ld save ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 f>m]s m ?an #c1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 pe/       
control e ye>2 ,:]eas bats h captur$ !  
human imag9ation ?r\gh backy>d sight+s1 
folklore1 my?s1 & leg5ds1 & outrea* &   
education ef=ts ab\t ! importance ( bats
 are in/rum5tal to _! exi/5ce2 ,:]eas   
bats are pres5t ?r\gh\t ?is _w1 except 9
 extremely cold regions1 & are !        

second-l>ge/ ord] ( mammals1 ) ab\t     
#a1cjj species2 ,:]eas a deadly fungus  
caus+ :ite-nose syndrome1 a disease t   
has kill$ millions ( bats 9 ,nor?       
,am]ica1 has n[ spread to #cf ,/ates2   
,:]eas ! disease has be5 confirm$ 9 #aa 
species ( hib]nat+ bats 9 ! ,unit$      
,/ates1 & is ! prim>y cause = !         
significant decl9e 9 populations (      
sev]al bat species1 especially !        
tri-color$ bat1 ! little br[n bat1 & !  
f$]ally designat$ z ?reat5$ nor!rn      
long-e>$ bat2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( !    
,int]ior's p>ticipation ?r\gh ! ,unit$  
,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,geological ,survey1 ,national   
,p>k ,s]vice1 & ,bureau ( ,l&           
,managem5t1 is lead+ ! int]national     
response to ! disease 9 p>tn]%ip ) m ?an
 #ajj ,f$]al ag5cies1 ,/ates1 ,tribes1  
nongov]nm5tal organizations1 &          
univ]sities2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi%
 & ,wildlife ,s]vice has ent]$ into an  
agreem5t ) ! ,national ,fi% & ,wildlife 
,f\ndation to e/abli% a ,bats = !       

,future ,fund to raise private funds to 
curtail ! spread ( :ite-nose syndrome & 
spe$ ! recov]y ( bat populations2 &     
,:]eas 9 ! pa/ decade1 ! int]national   
response to :ite-nose syndrome has made 
extraord9>y progress to und]/& !        
disease1 sl[ ! spread1 & develop        
treatm5ts t hold promise = defeat+ !    
disease1 & !re=e x is critical = new    
public-private p>tn]%ips to defeat !    
disease3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se ( 
,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 expresses support
 = ! designation ( ,bat,week2  7#b7     
enc\rages ! obs]vance ( ,bat,week )     
appropriate ev5ts & activities2  7#c7   
ackn[l$ges ! important role bats play z 
poll9ators & pe/ control = agriculture2 
&  7#d7 has ! int5t to-- 7,a7 cont9ue   
work+ to cons]ve bat species & habitat2 
&  7,b7 "w to defeat ! disease kn[n z   
:ite-nose syndrome4