Designating the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as “National Wildlife Refuge Week”.

Designating the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as “National Wildlife Refuge Week”.

Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service administers the National Wildlife Refuge System to conserve, manage, and, where appropriate, restore fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of current and future generations;

Whereas, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida;

Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and has grown to include 568 national wildlife refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and 5 marine national monuments with units located in every State and territory of the United States;

Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses more than 850,000,000 acres of unique habitats and ecosystems, including tropical and boreal forests, wetlands, deserts, grasslands, arctic tundras, remote islands, and marine areas, and spans 12 time zones from the United States Virgin Islands to Guam;

Whereas national wildlife refuges support approximately 800 species of birds, 220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 1,100 species of fish;

Whereas national wildlife refuges provide protection to more than 380 threatened species and endangered species;

Whereas 65 national wildlife refuges were established to conserve species considered to be threatened or endangered under Federal standards, including the American crocodile, California condor, Devil’s Hole pupfish, and Antioch Dunes evening primrose;

Whereas national wildlife refuges are the primary Federal lands that support waterfowl habitat;

Whereas, since 1934, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund has generated more than $2,000,000,000 and enabled the conservation of more than 6,300,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl and numerous other species in the National Wildlife Refuge System;

Whereas national wildlife refuges protect and conserve climate-resilient habitats that support biodiversity and provide nature-based solutions;

Whereas more than 180 national wildlife refuges conserve marine, coastal, and Great Lakes habitats, helping to protect communities by reducing the risk of storm-surge flooding, especially in low-lying floodplain and coastal areas;

Whereas many national wildlife refuges are managed to reduce wildfire risk by thinning overgrown forests and removing invasive species;

Whereas meaningful engagement and proactive collaboration with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native organizations, and the Native Hawaiian community is an integral aspect of the co-stewardship of our shared natural resources, including National Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters;

Whereas important cultural and historic resources are protected on national wildlife refuges, including—

(1) archaeological sites detailing the lives of Native Americans and early colonists at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia;

(2) World War II sites in the Pacific, from Attu in Alaska to Midway Atoll in the Hawaiian Islands; and

(3) the remains of the home of the father of Harriet Tubman at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland;

Whereas Tribal consultation is a cornerstone of historic preservation on national wildlife refuges where cultural resources and traditional sacred spaces are important to Native American Tribes, including Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada, where the Nuwuvi people finalized a plan with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to respect and showcase ancient petroglyphs;

Whereas national wildlife refuges use a range of management tools, including fire management, invasive species control, water management, wildlife health assessments, inventory and monitoring species, facility condition assessments, 5-year infrastructure project plans, and other tools to conserve habitat and ensure opportunities for public access and recreation;

Whereas national wildlife refuges are important recreational and tourism destinations in communities across the United States, and offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including sustainable hunting and fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation;

Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System receives nearly 68,000,000 annual visits that—

(1) generate more than $3,200,000,000 for local economies; and

(2) support 41,000 jobs;

Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System hosts more than 42,000,000 annual birding and wildlife observation visits;

Whereas national wildlife refuges are important to local businesses and gateway communities;

Whereas, for every dollar appropriated to the National Wildlife Refuge System, an average of approximately 5 dollars is returned to local economies;

Whereas 436 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System have hunting programs and 378 units have fishing programs that support, respectively, more than 2,600,000 hunting visits and more than 8,600,000 fishing visits annually;

Whereas national wildlife refuges provide an important opportunity for children to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world;

Whereas more than 15,000 volunteers and approximately 180 national wildlife refuge “Friends” organizations contribute approximately 818,000 volunteer hours annually, the equivalent of 400 full-time employees, and provide an important link between national wildlife refuges and local communities;

Whereas 101 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System are within 25 miles of cities and suburbs where 80 percent of individuals in the United States live;

Whereas, through the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service works to dismantle barriers that have blocked underserved communities from full and equal participation in outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation;

Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program fosters strong new conservation coalitions, educates and employs youth, engages communities, builds trust in government, and connects individuals with nature;

Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for people from all backgrounds to explore, connect with, and preserve the natural heritage of the United States;

Whereas, since 1995, national wildlife refuges across the United States have held festivals, educational programs, guided tours, and other events to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week during the second full week of October;

Whereas the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the week beginning on October 8, 2023, as National Wildlife Refuge Week; and

Whereas the designation of National Wildlife Refuge Week by the Senate would recognize more than a century of conservation in the United States, raise awareness about the importance of wildlife and the National Wildlife Refuge System, and celebrate the myriad recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this network of protected lands: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,