A resolution designating March 18, 2023, as "National Osceola Turkey Day".

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 135 Designating March 18, 2023, as ‘‘National Osceola Turkey Day’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 29, 2023 Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating March 18, 2023, as ‘‘National Osceola Turkey Day’’. Whereas wild turkey has been an important part of the his- tory and family traditions of the United States; Whereas wild turkey was on the table at the very first Thanksgiving, and turkey continues to be a mainstay during many holiday traditions; Whereas wild turkey is a healthy, organic, and delicious source of lean protein; Whereas 5 subspecies of wild turkey inhabit North America; Whereas, in the United States, turkey hunters have spent $76,900,000 per year since 1985 with an economic im- pact of $128,700,000 annually; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR135.ATS SR135 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 135 ATS Whereas Florida has a rich history of wild turkey hunting, management, and research; Whereas Florida is home to the Wild Turkey Cost Share Pro- gram, which is the largest public-private partnership pro- gram in the United States for the maintenance of wild turkey habitat on wildlife management areas and other public lands open to hunting; Whereas, since the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program began in 1994, upwards of 1,000,000 acres of upland habitat have received funding for turkey habitat management ef- forts; Whereas, in the 2022 Florida spring wild turkey season, 25,290 hunters participated in turkey hunting, including 4,744 non-residents of the Sunshine State; Whereas, in Florida, revenue generated from the sale of wild turkey permits is used for conservation, research, and management of wild turkeys or to promote the cultural heritage of hunting; Whereas turkey hunters are an important part of the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program, and the money generated from the sale of turkey permits, which are a requirement for hunting wild turkeys in Florida unless exempt, allows the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make significant contributions to the program each year; Whereas Florida is home to 2 subspecies of wild turkey, the eastern wild turkey and the Osceola or Florida wild tur- key; Whereas the Osceola is 1 of 5 subspecies of wild turkey in North America; Whereas the Osceola turkey exists only in peninsular Florida; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR135.ATS SR135 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 135 ATS Whereas the Osceola subspecies of wild turkey is often per- ceived as mysterious and the most difficult to harvest be- cause of its small geographic range and the often swampy habitat where it is found; Whereas hunters in pursuit of all 4 subspecies of turkey in the United States, known as a ‘‘Grand Slam’’, must hunt in Florida; and Whereas March 4, 2023, is the opening day of turkey har- vesting season in part of Florida, and March 18, 2023, is the opening day for the entire state: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates March 18, 2023, as ‘‘National 2 Osceola Turkey Day’’; and 3 (2) encourages the people of the United States 4 to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and 5 activities. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Mar 30, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR135.ATS SR135 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB