,,iv  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #dcj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,may #bb1 #bjbc,mr4   
,bey] 7= himself & ,ms4 ,/ansbury7      
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural      
,res\rces1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee 
on ,=eign ,affairs1 = a p]iod to be     
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,,resolution  ,express+ ! ne$ =
 protect+ & cons]v+ at lea/ #ej p]c5t ( 
! l&1 fre%wat]1 & ocean ecosy/ems 9 !   
,unit$ ,/ates & enc\rag+ diplomatic     
community ef=ts to a*ieve ?is goal      
worldwide4  ,:]eas ! ,e>? is fac+ a     
crisis ( biodiv]sity loss & species     
ext9ction2 ,:]eas !re has be5 an av]age 
#fi-p]c5t decrease 9 population sizes ( 
mammals1 birds1 amphibians1 reptiles1 & 
fi% betwe5 #aigj & #bjah2 ,:]eas ! rec5t
 global rate ( species ext9ction is at  
lea/ t5s-to-hundr$s ( times high] ?an ! 
av]age rate ov] ! pa/ t5 million ye>s & 

has increas$ %>ply s9ce #aijj2 ,:]eas   
today m ?an "o million plants & animal  
species are ?reat5$ ) ext9ction2 ,:]eas 
climate *ange increases ! risks (       
species ext9ction & irrev]sible loss (  
biodiv]sity1 pres5t+ an exi/5tial crisis
 = humans & millions ( o!r species ar\nd
 ! _w2 ,:]eas human-driv5 *anges 9 l& & 
sea use are driv]s ( bo? biodiv]sity    
loss & climate *ange2 ,:]eas ecosy/ems  
su* z =e/s1 wetl&s1 grassl&s1 &         
mangroves c seque/] l>ge am\nts ( c>bon1
 & protect+ ^! areas & _! wildlife      
populations c mitigate climate *ange by 
prev5t+ c>bon f be+ releas$ into !      
atmosph]e2 ,:]eas cons]v+ & re/or+      
natural ecosy/ems provides great] net   
economic b5efits ?an de/roy+ natural    
spaces & wildlife = pr(it2 ,:]eas       
indu/ries t d n h>m biodiv]sity1 su* z !
 outdoor recreation indu/ry t support$  
#d4e million jobs across ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 & acc\nt$ = #hfb billion 9 gross output
 9 #bjba1 enable individuals to h       
mean+ful c>e]s outside 9 nature2 ,:]eas 

e/abli%+ protect$ natural areas c       
contribute _m b5efits to p1 includ+ by--
  7#a7 mitigat+ effects ( climate *ange 
& buff]+ ! impacts ( extreme wea!r      
ev5ts2  7#b7 provid+ clean] dr9k+ wat]2 
7#c7 r$uc+ air pollution2  7#d7 be+ a   
s\rce ( new m$ic9es2  7#e7 r$uc+ local  
rates ( infecti\s diseases & broad] risk
 ( zoonotic spillov] t c contribute to  
p&emics2 &  7#f7 support+ poll9ators &  
o!r b5eficial species = food production1
 globally valu$ at up to m ?an five     
hundr$ billion doll>s2  ,:]eas access to
 nature ensures cultural & spiritual    
enri*m5t1 z well z physical & m5tal     
heal? b5efits2 ,:]eas all life dep5ds on
 ess5tial ecosy/ems1 &1 !re=e1 damag+ or
 eras+ !m c h a pr(\nd impact on        
biodiv]sity & human heal? & well-be+2   
,:]eas inequitable policies h l$ to a   
t>get$ d5ud+ ( biodiv]sity 9 communities
 ( color1 l[-income communities1 &      
,tribal communities1 creat+ great h>m & 
prev5t+ ^! communities f hav+ equal     
access to ! b5efits ( biodiv]sity2      

,:]eas ! degradation & de/ruction (     
natural habitat is ! prim>y cause (     
biological div]sity loss at e level2    
,:]eas only by ! pres]vation &          
cons]vation ( sub/antial1 m natural1    
intact habitat ?an previ\sly envision$ c
 human-driv5 ext9ctions be elim9at$2    
,:]eas ! late ,am]ican biologi/ ,e4,o4  
,wilson e/imat$ t protect+ half ( !     
,e>?'s surface w\ld ensure ! su/a9able  
p]si/5ce ( #he p]c5t ( ! planet's       
species1 & ) x1 global biodiv]sity2     
,:]eas ! cons]vation sci5ce community   
has develop$ robu/ tools to in=m !      
id5tification ( natural habitats t      
provide ! be/ opportunity to safegu>d   
species2 ,:]eas area-bas$ cons]vation   
goals are key to av]t+ biodiv]sity loss 
& c be a*iev$ ?r\gh collaborative ef=ts1
 includ+--  7#a7 public-private         
p>tn]%ips1 :i* play a notable role 9    
cons]vation )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ar\nd !
 _w2  7#b7 /ew>d%ip ( local communities 
on ! gr\nd & indig5\s peoples1 honor+ _!
 rights to l&s1 t]ritories1 & res\rces2 

&  7#c7 int]national coop]ation2 &      
,:]eas ! ,am]ica ! ,beautiful           
,initiative & its goal ( cons]v+ #cj    
p]c5t ( l&1 fre%wat]1 & ocean ecosy/ems 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates by #bjcj is a crucial 
fir/ /ep to protect+ biodiv]sity &      
mitigat+ ! effects ( climate *ange3 ,n[1
 !re=e1 be x  ,t x is ! s5se ( ! ,h\se (
 ,repres5tatives t-- 7#a7 ! ,e>? is fac+
 an imm95t crisis f ! ext9ction (       
species & ! decl9e ( biodiv]sity2 &     
7#b7 ,congress %\ld "w to support       
protect+ & cons]v+ at lea/ #ej p]c5t ( !
 l&1 fre%wat]1 & ocean ecosy/ems 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates & enc\rage diplomatic     
community ef=ts to a*ieve ?is goal      
worldwide1 includ+ e>ly & (t5 /akehold] 
consultation to ensure j impacts &      
transition4