Recognizing and honoring Smokey Bear's 75 years of service to the United States and commitment to preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 775 Recognizing and honoring Smokey Bear’s 75 years of service to the United States and commitment to preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECEMBER 19, 2019 Ms. MCCOLLUM (for herself, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. YOUNG, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. FORTENBERRY) sub- mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring Smokey Bear’s 75 years of service to the United States and commitment to preventing un- wanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health. Whereas Smokey Bear has served the United States for 75 years, preventing wildfires and protecting the Nation’s forests, above and beyond the call of duty; Whereas the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service advertising campaign in United States his- tory; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:44 Dec 20, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR775.IH HR775 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 775 IH Whereas Smokey Bear was the first individual animal ever to be honored on a postage stamp and receives so much mail he has his own ZIP Code; Whereas Smokey Bear has worked diligently with the United States Forest Service to educate Americans of all ages and particularly America’s youth, the future stewards of our forests, about the need for vigilance regarding wildfires and forest health; Whereas Smokey Bear released videos for his 75th birthday that included celebrity voiceovers filling in for Smokey, all stating Smokey’s signature ‘‘only you can prevent wildfires’’ slogan and directing viewers back to Smokey Bear’s website to learn more about forest health; Whereas Smokey Bear’s website includes a ‘‘Benefits of Fire’’ section that describes fire as ‘‘one of nature’s most essen- tial agents of change’’ that ‘‘can trigger a rebirth of for- ests’’; Whereas Native Americans and indigenous people long used prescribed fires to manipulate and improve landscapes, maintain prairies, and preserve healthy ecosystems; Whereas while there are benefits to occasional natural fires under specific conditions, it is important to remember Smokey’s ABCs: Always Be Careful with fire; Whereas Smokey Bear’s commitment to educating the public about wildfires can be applied to the need to improve public awareness about the benefits of prescribed fires, and how they are one of the most effective tools in pre- venting wildfires and managing the intensity and spread of wildfires; Whereas Smokey Bear’s dedication to forest health can be applied to educating the public about the benefits of nat- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:44 Dec 20, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR775.IH HR775 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HRES 775 IH ural fires in maintaining healthy ecosystems dependent on periodic fires, supporting native vegetation, promoting wildlife diversity, and reducing excessive amounts of dead plant material; Whereas Smokey Bear’s message of vigilance can be applied to overall forest health and protection, including the man- agement of invasive species, the effects of insect and dis- ease infestations, the impacts of changing climates, water quality and quantity, and increasingly severe weather events; and Whereas the United States Forest Service, the National Asso- ciation of State Foresters, and the Advertising Council have provided extraordinary support and dedication to the purposes and efforts of Smokey Bear: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes and honors Smokey Bear’s 75 2 years of service to the United States; 3 (2) expresses support for Smokey Bear’s com- 4 mitment to preventing unwanted human-caused 5 wildfires and promoting forest health; and 6 (3) encourages the United States Forest Serv- 7 ice, the National Association of State Foresters, and 8 the Advertising Council to explore ways Smokey 9 Bear’s message can be modernized to reflect current 10 science and differentiate between unwanted human- 11 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:44 Dec 20, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR775.IH HR775 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HRES 775 IH caused wildfires and beneficial natural and pre- 1 scribed fires. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:44 Dec 20, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR775.IH HR775 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS