,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cfb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #ag1 #bjai,mr4 ,coons 7for himself and ,mr4 ,kennedy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,,resolution ,designating the week beginning on ,october #ac1 #bjai1 as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,whereas1 in #aijc1 ,president ,theodore ,roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,island in ,florida2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 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 #efg national wildlife refuges 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 offer 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 receives more than #ej1jjj1jjj visitors annually1 which generates more than #c1bjj1jjj1jjj in sales and more than #da1jjj jobs in local economies2 ,whereas #chb units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system have hunting programs that receive more than #b1jjj1jjj hunting visits annually1 and #caf units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system have fishing programs that receive more than #g1jjj1jjj fishing visits annually2 ,whereas the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system has hosted more than #cj1jjj1jjj wildlife observation visits in recent years2 ,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 tropical1 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-- 7#a7 #gjj species of birds2 7#b7 #bbj species of mammals2 7#c7 #bej species of reptiles and amphibians2 and 7#d7 #a1jjj species of fish2 ,whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary ,federal land on which the production1 migration1 and wintering habitats for waterfowl are fostered2 ,whereas1 since #aicd1 the ,migratory ,bird ,conservation ,fund1 which has been largely funded from the sale of the ,federal ,duck ,stamp to outdoor enthusiasts1 has generated more than #a1ejj1jjj1jjj and enabled the conservation of more than #e1ijj1jjj acres of habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 ,whereas national wildlife 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 almost #bjj national wildlife refuge ,friends organizations contribute approximately #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 national wildlife refuge located within a #a-;hour drive of nearly 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 national wildlife 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 #ac1 #bjai1 as ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 and ,whereas the designation of ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by the ,senate 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 the protected land and water within that system3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates the week beginning on ,october #ac1 #bjai1 as ,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 ,senate for wildlife conservation and the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system2 and 7#i7 expresses the intent of the ,senate-- 7,a7 to continue working to conserve wildlife2 and 7,b7 to manage the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system for current and future generations4