SR0205 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0205 LRB095 12249 GRL 36681 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle was designated as the U.S.A.'s National Emblem on June 20, 1782 by our Country's Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress; and

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle is unique to North America and represents such American values and attributes as Freedom, Courage, Strength, Spirit, Justice, Quality, and Excellence; and

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle is the central image used in the Great Seal of the United States and in the logos of many branches of the United States government, including the Presidency, Congress, Defense Department, Treasury Department, Justice Department, State Department, Department Of Commerce, and the U.S. Postal Service; and

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle's image, meaning, and symbolism have played a significant role in the beliefs, traditions, religions, lifestyles, and heritage of Americans from all walks of life, including U.S. military service men and women, American Indians, Christians, and members of various civic, fraternal, patriotic, veterans, youth, conservation, educational, outdoors, nature, sportsman, wildlife, political, and sports organizations; and

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle's image, meaning, and symbolism have played a significant role in American art, music, literature, architecture, commerce, education, culture, and on United States stamps, currency, and coinage; and

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle was once endangered with possible extinction, but is making a gradual and encouraging comeback to America's skies; and

WHEREAS, The Bald Eagle was federally classified as an "endangered species" in the lower 48 states under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and was upgraded to a less imperiled "threatened" status under that Act in 1995; and

WHEREAS, The Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service plan to delist the Bald Eagle from Endangered Species Act protection in 2007, but will continue to be protected under the Bald & Golden Eagle Act of 1940 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918; and

WHEREAS, The recovery of the U.S.A.'s Bald Eagle population was largely accomplished due to the vigilant efforts of numerous caring agencies, corporations, organizations and citizens; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that that we hereby proclaim June 20th as American Eagle Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all United States citizens to join us in support of the majestic Bald Eagle's continuing recovery and the protection of its precious natural habitat, and in commemorating the living and symbolic presence of our National Bird through the annual observance of American Eagle Day.