,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #beg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bj1 #bjai,mr4 ,alexander 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mrs4 ,blackburn1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,cramer1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mr4 ,inhofe1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,manchin1 ,mr4 ,udall1 and ,mr4 ,cardin7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,designating ,june #bj1 #bjai1 as ,american ,eagle ,day and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the bald eagle1 the national symbol of the ,united ,states4 ,whereas the bald eagle was chosen as the central image of the ,great ,seal of the ,united ,states on ,june #bj1 #aghb1 by the ,founding ,fathers at the ,congress of the ,confederation2 ,whereas the bald eagle is widely known as the living national symbol of the ,united ,states and for many generations has represented values1 such as-- 7#a7 freedom2 7#b7 democracy2 7#c7 courage2 7#d7 strength2 7#e7 spirit2 7#f7 independence2 7#g7 justice2 and 7#h7 excellence2 ,whereas the bald eagle is unique to ,north ,america and cannot be found naturally in any other part of the world1 which was one of the primary reasons the ,founding ,fathers selected the bald eagle to symbolize the ,government of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the bald eagle is the central image used in the official logos of many branches and departments of the ,federal ,government1 including-- 7#a7 the ,executive ,office of the ,president2 7#b7 ,congress2 7#c7 the ,supreme ,court of the ,united ,states2 7#d7 the ,department of ,defense2 7#e7 the ,department of the ,treasury2 7#f7 the ,department of ,justice2 7#g7 the ,department of ,state2 7#h7 the ,department of ,commerce2 7#i7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7#aj7 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 7#aa7 the ,department of ,labor2 7#ab7 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services2 7#ac7 the ,department of ,energy2 7#ad7 the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development2 7#ae7 the ,central ,intelligence ,agency2 and 7#af7 the ,united ,states ,postal ,service2 ,whereas the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of the spirit of freedom and the sovereignty of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the image and symbolism of the bald eagle has-- 7#a7 played a significant role in art1 music1 literature1 architecture1 commerce1 education1 and culture in the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 appeared on ,united ,states stamps1 currency1 and coinage2 ,whereas the bald eagle was endangered and facing possible extinction in the lower #dh ,states but has made a gradual and encouraging comeback to the land1 waterways1 and skies of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the dramatic recovery of the national bird of the ,united ,states is an endangered species success story and an inspirational example to other environmental1 natural resource1 and wildlife conservation efforts worldwide2 ,whereas1 in #aidj1 noting that the bald eagle was threatened with extinction1 ,congress passed the ,act of ,june #h1 #aidj 7commonly known as the ,bald ,eagle ,protection ,act7 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffh et seq471 which prohibited killing1 selling1 or possessing the species1 and a #aifb amendment expanded protection to the golden eagle2 ,whereas1 by #aifc1 there were only an estimated #dag nesting pairs of bald eagles remaining in the lower #dh ,states1 with loss of habitat1 poaching1 and the use of pesticides and other environmental contaminants contributing to the near demise of the national bird of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 in #aifg1 the bald eagle was officially declared an endangered species under ,public ,law #hi-ffi 7#hj ,stat4 #ibf7 7commonly known as the ,endangered ,species ,preservation ,act of #aiff7 in areas in the ,united ,states south of the #djth parallel due to the dramatic decline in the population of the bald eagle in the lower #dh ,states2 ,whereas the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 was enacted in #aigc1 and in #aigh1 the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species throughout the lower #dh ,states1 except in the ,states of ,michigan1 ,minnesota1 ,oregon1 ,washington1 and ,wisconsin1 in which the bald eagle was listed as a threatened species2 ,whereas1 in ,july #aiie1 the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service announced that in the lower #dh ,states1 the bald eagle had recovered sufficiently to change the status of the species from endangered to threatened2 ,whereas1 by #bjjg1 bald eagles residing in the lower #dh ,states had rebounded to approximately #aa1jjj pairs2 ,whereas1 on ,june #bh1 #bjjg1 the ,secretary the ,interior and the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service removed the bald eagle from protection under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq471 but the bald eagle continues to be protected under the ,act of ,june #h1 #aidj 7commonly known as the ,bald and ,golden ,eagle ,protection ,act7 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffh et seq471 the ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc et seq471 section #db of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,lacey ,act71 and the ,lacey ,act ,amendments of #aiha 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ccga et seq472 ,whereas ,challenger1 the trained1 educational bald eagle of the ,american ,eagle ,foundation in ,pigeon ,forge1 ,tennessee1 was invited by the ,secretary of the ,interior to perform a free-flight demonstration during the official bald eagle delisting ceremony held at the ,jefferson ,memorial in ,washington1 ,district of ,columbia2 ,whereas experts and population growth charts estimate that the bald eagle population could reach #ae1jjj pairs1 even though a physical count has not been conducted by ,state and ,federal wildlife agencies since #bjjg2 ,whereas caring and concerned agencies1 corporations1 organizations1 and people of the ,united ,states representing ,federal and ,state governments and the private sector passionately and resourcefully banded together1 determined to save and protect the national bird of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the recovery of the bald eagle population in the ,united ,states was largely accomplished through-- 7#a7 the dedicated and vigilant efforts of ,federal and ,state wildlife agencies and nonprofit organizations1 such as the ,american ,eagle ,foundation2 7#b7 public education2 7#c7 captive breeding and release programs2 7#d7 hacking and release programs2 and 7#e7 the translocation of bald eagles from places in the ,united ,states with dense bald eagle populations to suitable locations in the lower #dh ,states that had suffered a decrease in bald eagle populations2 ,whereas various nonprofit organizations1 such as the ,southeastern ,raptor ,center at ,auburn ,university in the ,state of ,alabama1 contribute to the continuing recovery of the bald eagle through rehabilitation and educational efforts2 ,whereas the bald eagle might have been lost permanently if not for dedicated conservation efforts and strict protection laws such as-- 7#a7 the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq472 7#b7 the ,act of ,june #h1 #aidj 7commonly known as the ,bald and ,golden ,eagle ,protection ,act7 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffh et seq472 7#c7 the ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc et seq472 7#d7 section #db of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,lacey ,act72 and 7#e7 the ,lacey ,act ,amendments of #aiha 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ccga et seq472 and ,whereas the sustained recovery of the bald eagle population will require the continuation of recovery1 management1 education1 and public awareness programs to ensure that the population numbers and habitat of the bald eagle remain healthy and secure for generations to come3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates ,june #bj1 #bjai1 as ,american ,eagle ,day2 7#b7 applauds the issuance of bald eagle commemorative coins by the ,secretary of the ,treasury to generate critical funds for the protection of the bald eagle2 and 7#c7 encourages-- 7,a7 educational entities1 organizations1 businesses1 conservation groups1 and government agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate and develop educational tools for use in the public schools of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 the people of the ,united ,states to observe ,american ,eagle ,day with appropriate ceremonies and other activities4