,,iii  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #hcj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #ad1         
#bjbb,mr4 ,leahy 7= himself & ,mr4      
,m>key7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,environm5t & ,public ,works            
,,resolution  ,express+ support = !     
designation ( ! week ( ,octob] #bd1     
#bjbb1 to ,octob] #ca1 #bjbb1 z ,bat    
,week4  ,:]eas bats are vital to !      
su/a9ability ( natural ecosy/ems1       
national economies1 & human heal? by    
controll+ damag+ insect pe/s1 poll9at+  
plants t produce fruits & vegetables1   
disp]s+ se$s to ensure heal?y function+ 
=e/s & fields1 & sav+ f>m]s 9 ! ,unit$  
,/ates m ?an #c1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 pe/       
control e ye>2 ,:]eas bats h captur$ !  
human imag9ation ?r\gh backy>d sight+s1 
folklore1 art1 my?s1 & leg5ds1 mak+     
outrea* & education ab\t ! importance ( 
bats in/rum5tal2 ,:]eas bats are pres5t 
?r\gh\t ! _w1 except 9 extremely cold   
regions1 & are ! second-l>ge/ ord] (    

mammals ) ov] #a1djj species2 ,:]eas    
:ite-nose syndrome1 a fungal disease t  
has kill$ millions ( bats 9 ,nor?       
,am]ica1 has n[ spread to #ch ,/ates &  
#ab species ( hib]nat+ bats2 ,:]eas !   
disease has caus$ significant decl9es 9 
populations ( ! tricolor$ bat1 ! little 
br[n bat1 & ! nor!rn long-e>$ bat1 :i*  
are li/$ z ?reat5$ "u ! ,endang]$       
,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4    
#aeca et seq472 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( !  
,int]ior1 ?r\gh ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &  
,wildlife ,s]vice1 ,unit$ ,/ates        
,geological ,survey1 ,national ,p>k     
,s]vice1 & ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t is  
lead+ ! int]national response to !      
disease 9 p>tn]%ip ) ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
,=e/ ,s]vice & m ?an #aej ,f$]al & ,/ate
 ag5cies1 ,tribes1 nongov]nm5tal        
organizations1 & univ]sities2 ,:]eas !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,geological ,survey & !   
,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice  
co-lead ! mult9ational1 multiag5cy ,nor?
 ,am]ican ,bat ,monitor+ ,program       
7,n,a,bat7 :i* s9ce #bjae has           

consolidat$ ne>ly #fh1jjj1jjj records f 
p>tn]s 9 #di ,/ates1 #h ,canadian       
prov9ces1 & #aj ,tribal organizations1  
demon/rat+ ! p[] ( collaborative        
cons]vation sci5ce to monitor *anges 9  
,nor? ,am]ican bat populations2 ,:]eas !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,geological ,survey      
conducts sci5tific rese>* on bats1 :i*  
helps res\rce manag]s & policymak]s make
 in=m$ decisions reg>d+ ! cons]vation ( 
bats across ,nor? ,am]ica2 & ,:]eas1 9 !
 pa/ decade1 ! int]national p>tn]%ip (  
,/ates1 ,tribes1 ,f$]al ag5cies1        
nongov]nm5tal organizations1 &          
in/itutions has made extraord9>y        
progress to und]/& :ite-nose syndrome1  
sl[ ! spread1 & develop treatm5ts t hold
 promise = end+ ?is epidemic3 ,n[1      
!re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 expresses
 support = ! designation ( ,bat ,week2  
7#b7 enc\rages ! obs]vance ( ,bat ,week 
) appropriate ev5ts & activities2  7#c7 
ackn[l$ges ! important role bats play z 
poll9ators & pe/ control = agriculture2 
&  7#d7 int5ds to-- 7,a7 cont9ue work+  

to cons]ve bat species & habitat2 &     
7,b7 "w to defeat ! disease kn[n z      
:ite-nose syndrome4