Sponsors (5)
The bill expands access, local economic activity, conservation, and community stewardship through wildlife refuges, but provides mostly symbolic designation without new funding—shifting costs and potential short-term disruptions onto local communities unless Congress appropriates resources.
Urban and nearby residents gain easier access to outdoor recreation because 101 refuge units lie within 25 miles of metro areas, supporting nearly 71 million visits annually.
Local businesses and gateway communities receive economic boosts from refuge-related tourism and jobs, with refuges generating about $5 in local return for every $1 appropriated.
Rural and tribal communities benefit from strengthened conservation and biodiversity protections because refuges protect over 380 threatened or endangered species and diverse taxa.
Taxpayers and local governments may see little immediate benefit because the designation is largely symbolic and includes no new funding—planned access or conservation improvements may not occur without future appropriations.
Gateway communities could face higher local costs (parking, trails, enforcement) from increased visitation if no funding offsets are provided.
Residents may experience temporary access restrictions or nuisances when management actions (e.g., prescribed burns, invasive-species control) are carried out for refuge upkeep.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Designates the week beginning Oct 12, 2025 as National Wildlife Refuge Week and recognizes the Refuge System’s scope, visitation, economic and conservation contributions.
Official title: Supporting the designation of the week beginning on October 12, 2025, as "National Wildlife Refuge Week".
Introduced October 17, 2025 by Michael Thompson · Last progress October 17, 2025
Designates the week beginning October 12, 2025 as National Wildlife Refuge Week and formally recognizes the scope, value, and activities of the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The resolution highlights the number of refuges, acres protected, biodiversity, annual visitation and recreation, volunteer contributions, economic returns, and programmatic efforts such as urban conservation and tribal engagement. The measure is ceremonial and awareness-focused: it celebrates conservation and public recreation, aims to raise public awareness about refuges and their benefits, and acknowledges the System's conservation, recreation, and community contributions.