House Resolution 119 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 119 BY ISENHART , MOHR , KURTH , STOLTENBERG , DETERMANN , CROKEN , BRADLEY , MOMMSEN , VONDRAN , OSMUNDSON , LUNDGREN , and KAUFMANN A Resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of 1 the establishment of the Upper Mississippi River 2 Wildlife and Fish Refuge. 3 WHEREAS, the Upper Mississippi River National 4 Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) was created by an 5 Act of Congress 100 years ago on June 7, 1924, to 6 systematically evaluate, manage, and protect the 7 261-mile, 240,000-acre river corridor, from Wabasha, 8 Minnesota, to Princeton, Iowa, including 72 cities and 9 towns; and 10 WHEREAS, the Refuge was the nation’s largest 11 environmental investment at the time and was 12 established as the first major project of the Izaak 13 Walton League of America, prompted by a desire to 14 preserve 13,000 acres of wetlands in the Winneshiek 15 Bottoms near Lansing, Iowa; and 16 WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 17 nonprofit organizations, federal and state partners, 18 and others work to conserve, protect, and enhance 19 habitat and plant life for use as a breeding ground for 20 migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife; and 21 WHEREAS, the Refuge is home to more than 1,262 22 species, including 300 birds, 50 mammals, 30 reptiles, 23 42 freshwater mussels, and 840 plants, as well as over 24 300 nesting pairs of America’s symbol, the bald eagle, 25 after hosting only one breeding pair in 1972; and 26 -1- LSB 6325HH (8) 90 lh/jm 1/ 3

H.R. 119 WHEREAS, the Refuge is designated a Wetland of 1 International Importance by the United Nations and 2 a Globally Important Bird and Biodiversity Area 3 by BirdLife International and the National Audubon 4 Society; and 5 WHEREAS, the Refuge addresses significant ecological 6 challenges, including threats from climate change and 7 invasive species, preserves unique plant species, 8 conserves threatened and endangered species, serves as 9 a layover haven for migratory waterfowl and neotropical 10 birds, restores hardwood forests, and preserves 11 cultural resources; and 12 WHEREAS, the Refuge hosts 3.7 million visitors 13 annually at Yellow River State Forest, Pikes Peak State 14 Park, Mines of Spain Recreation Area, Bellevue State 15 Park, Green Island Wildlife Management Area, Wildcat 16 Den State Park, and other city, county, and state parks 17 and conservation areas; and 18 WHEREAS, the Refuge offers prime recreational 19 opportunities to the public including hunting, fishing, 20 hiking, biking, boating, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife 21 viewing and photography, as well as environmental, 22 historical, and cultural education; and 23 WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 24 nonprofit organizations, and state and federal partners 25 work together to conserve and enhance this natural 26 inheritance for the continuing benefit of the American 27 people and future generations; NOW THEREFORE, 28 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That 29 the House of Representatives declares June 7, 2024, 30 -2- LSB 6325HH (8) 90 lh/jm 2/ 3

H.R. 119 as Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge 1 Day, encouraging the people of Iowa to gather locally 2 throughout the year for events to celebrate the 100th 3 anniversary. 4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of 5 Representatives encourages educational institutions 6 and public entities to provide critical research, to 7 educate the public, and to engage in collaborative 8 projects related to the Upper Mississippi River, 9 in order to promote human and ecological health, to 10 enhance biodiversity, to protect wildlife habitat and 11 endangered species, and to promote recreational and 12 economic opportunities; and 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of 14 Representatives encourages the President of the 15 United States, the United States Congress, the Iowa 16 General Assembly, the Governor of Iowa, the U.S. 17 Fish and Wildlife Service, cities, counties, soil and 18 conservation districts, county extension councils, and 19 other public jurisdictions and elected officials to 20 adopt appropriate resolutions, policies, programs, and 21 funding commitments in collaboration with private and 22 nonprofit organizations to secure the integrity of the 23 Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge for 24 the next 100 years. 25 -3- LSB 6325HH (8) 90 lh/jm 3/ 3