,,iii #aag? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #dae ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,octob] #g1 #bjba,mr4 ,coons 7= himself & ,mr4 ,k5n$y7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ & agre$ to ,,resolution ,designat+ ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #aj1 #bjba1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week4 ,:]eas 9 #aijc1 ,presid5t ,!odore ,roosevelt e/abli%$ ! fir/ national wildlife refuge on ,pelican ,isl& 9 ,florida2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em is adm9i/]$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice & has gr[n to #efh national wildlife refuges & #ch wetl& managem5t di/ricts1 ) units locat$ 9 e ,/ate & t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important recreational & t\rism de/9ations 9 communities across ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & (f] a v>iety ( recreational opportunities1 includ+ hunt+1 fi%+1 wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em receives m ?an #fa1jjj1jjj annual visits t-- 7#a7 g5]ate m ?an #c1bjj1jjj1jjj = local economies2 & 7#b7 support #da1jjj jobs2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em has ho/$ m ?an #cg1jjj1jjj bird+ & wildlife obs]vation visits 9 rec5t ye>s2 ,:]eas national wildlife refuges are important to local bus9esses & gateway communities2 ,:]eas #dcd units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em h hunt+ programs & #cgh units h fi%+ programs t support m ?an #b1ejj1jjj hunt+ visits & m ?an #h1cjj1jjj fi%+ visits annually2 ,:]eas ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em conta9s _m diff]5t k9ds ( ecosy/ems1 includ+ 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 support 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$]al l&s t support wat]f[l habitats2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #aicd1 ! ,migratory ,bird ,cons]vation ,fund has g5]at$ m ?an #a1ajj1jjj1jjj & enabl$ ! cons]vation ( m ?an #f1jjj1jjj 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$ species & endang]$ species2 ,:]eas #aja units ( ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em are )9 #be miles ( cities & suburbs :]e #hj p]c5t ( individuals 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates live2 ,:]eas ?r\gh ! ,urban ,wildlife ,cons]vation ,program1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice works to dismantle b>ri]s t h block$ "u-s]v$ communities f full & equal p>ticipation 9 outdoor recreation & wildlife cons]vation2 ,:]eas ! ,urban ,wildlife ,cons]vation ,program fo/]s /rong new cons]vation coalitions1 educates & employs y\?1 bett]s communities1 builds tru/ 9 gov]nm5t2 & connects individuals ) nature2 ,:]eas m ?an #cc1jjj volunte]s & almo/ #ahj national wildlife refuge 8,fri5ds0 organizations contribute approximately #ijj1jjj volunte] h\rs annually1 ! equival5t ( #ddb 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 national wildlife refuges provide opportunities = p f all backgr\nds to explore1 connect )1 & pres]ve ! natural h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas1 s9ce #aiie1 national wildlife 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] #aj1 #bjba1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 & ,:]eas ! designation ( ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week by ! ,s5ate 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 ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 designates ! week beg9n+ on ,octob] #aj1 #bjba1 z ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week2 7#b7 enc\rages ! obs]vance ( ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,week ) appropriate ev5ts & activities2 7#c7 recognizes ! importance ( national wildlife refuges to wildlife cons]vation1 ! protection ( imp]il$ species & ecosy/ems1 & compatible uses2 7#d7 ackn[l$ges ! importance ( national wildlife refuges = _! recreational opportunities & contribution to local economies across ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#e7 id5tifies ! significance ( national wildlife refuges 9 advanc+ ! traditions ( wildlife obs]vation1 photography1 environm5tal education1 & int]pretation2 7#f7 f9ds t national wildlife refuges play a vital role 9 secur+ ! hunt+ & fi%+ h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = future g5]ations2 7#g7 recognizes ! important "w ( urban national wildlife refuges 9 welcom+ racially & e?nically div]se urban communities t 7 long exclud$1 includ+ "w-- 7,a7 to fo/] /rong new cons]vation coalitions2 7,b7 to provide education & employm5t opportunities to y\?2 7,c7 to improve communities2 7,d7 to build tru/ 9 gov]nm5t2 & 7,e7 to connect individuals ) nature2 7#h7 ackn[l$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#i7 reaffirms ! support ( ! ,s5ate = wildlife cons]vation & ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em2 & 7#aj7 expresses ! int5t ( ! ,s5ate-- 7,a7 to cont9ue work+ to cons]ve wildlife2 & 7,b7 to manage ! ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,sy/em = curr5t & future g5]ations4