Supporting the designation of May 21, 2021, as "Endangered Species Day".

IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 430 Supporting the designation of May 21, 2021, as ‘‘Endangered Species Day’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 21, 2021 Mrs. DINGELL (for herself, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. BEYER) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re- sources RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of May 21, 2021, as ‘‘Endangered Species Day’’. Whereas plants and wildlife provide incalculable services for humankind, including health, cultural, economic, rec- reational, and spiritual benefits, among others; Whereas, in the United States and around the world, more than 2,300 species are recognized as at risk of extinction now or in the foreseeable future, and many more are ex- periencing declines in populations and future viability; Whereas the planet is experiencing a biodiversity crisis, which many scientists conclude is the sixth mass extinction event, with plant and wildlife species across the globe fac- ing heightened risk of extinction that is largely driven by human activity; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR430.IH HR430 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 430 IH Whereas climate change, large-scale changes in land use, and habitat destruction pose existential threats to species; Whereas the United States has prioritized the conservation and recovery of imperiled species by enacting the Endan- gered Species Act of 1973 and other landmark conserva- tion statutes; Whereas conservation and protection efforts implemented under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 have success- fully prevented the extinction of more than 99 percent of species designated as threatened or endangered, including the critically imperiled California condor, whooping crane, and black-footed ferret; Whereas many at-risk species have significant cultural and subsistence values to Tribal, indigenous, and Native Alas- kan communities, whose Tribal leadership, ancestral lands, and traditional ecological knowledge play an in- valuable role in species conservation and recovery; Whereas Americans have the opportunity to stem threats to endangered and threatened species by enacting and im- plementing bold policies and conservation initiatives, in- cluding conserving at least 30 percent each of our Na- tion’s lands and waters by the year 2030; and Whereas the recovery of species under the Endangered Spe- cies Act of 1973 is a remarkable success that should be celebrated: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Endangered 2 Species Day’’; 3 (2) recognizes the intrinsic value of plants and 4 wildlife as part of the United States environmental 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR430.IH HR430 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 430 IH heritage, and the invaluable role that the Endan- 1 gered Species Act of 1973 has played in safe- 2 guarding at-risk species; and 3 (3) acknowledges the continued importance of 4 the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and other con- 5 servation measures to protect threatened and endan- 6 gered species and address the biodiversity crisis. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 May 22, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR430.IH HR430 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS