III
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 503
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 28, 2010
Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. Feingold) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
May 7, 2010
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating May 21, 2010, as
Endangered Species Day
.
Whereas in the United States and around the world, more than 1,000 species are officially designated as at risk of extinction and thousands more also face a heightened risk of extinction;
Whereas the actual and potential benefits that may be derived from many species have not yet been fully discovered and would be permanently lost if not for conservation efforts;
Whereas recovery efforts for species such as the whooping crane, Kirtland's warbler, the peregrine falcon, the gray wolf, the gray whale, the grizzly bear, and others have resulted in great improvements in the viability of such species;
Whereas saving a species requires a combination of sound research, careful coordination, and intensive management of conservation efforts, along with increased public awareness and education;
Whereas 2/3 of endangered or threatened species reside on private lands;
Whereas voluntary cooperative conservation programs have proven to be critical to habitat restoration and species recovery; and
Whereas education and increasing public awareness are the first steps in effectively informing the public about endangered species and species restoration efforts: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
designates May
21, 2010, as Endangered Species Day
;
encourages schools to spend at least 30 minutes on Endangered Species Day teaching and informing students about—
threats to endangered species around the world; and
efforts to restore endangered species, including the essential role of private landowners and private stewardship in the protection and recovery of species;
encourages organizations, businesses, private landowners, and agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate in developing educational information for use in schools; and
encourages the people of the United States—
to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and opportunities to promote species conservation worldwide; and
to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.