Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-04-30

SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 2026, AS "NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK"

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On 2026-04-30, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) delivered a floor speech titled "SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 2026, AS "NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK"" in the House. The speech addressed the environment.

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SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 2026, AS "NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK"

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E398] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 2026, AS ``NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK'' ______ HON. MARCY KAPTUR of ohio in the house of representatives Thursday, April 30, 2026 Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bipartisan resolution that I am introducing with my Ohio colleague, Representative Robert E. Latta, proclaiming May 8, 2026, through May 17, 2026, as National American Birding Week. Across our Nation, nearly 96 million birders contribute more than $90 billion in job income each year. That is not just recreation, that is an economic engine rooted in conservation. Each spring, an estimated 3.5 billion birds, representing over 350 species, make their journey north, many pausing along the shores of our Great Lakes to rest and refuel before crossing those vast freshwater horizons. In Northwest Ohio, we are blessed to witness this living miracle. Our Great Lakes region becomes a gathering place for people from across the globe--environmental stewards, scientists, families, and visitors--drawn by the beauty and wonder of migration. Events like the Biggest Week in American Birding, hosted by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor, showcase what is possible when conservation and economic development work hand in hand. These efforts sustain local communities, support small businesses, and deepen our understanding of the fragile ecosystems that sustain life. In Ohio, we are proud to welcome visitors from near and far. We cherish this freshwater kingdom and the life it sustains. And we remain committed to protecting it, so that generations to come may stand beneath open skies, watch the wings overhead, and know that nature still endures. ____________________

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SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 2026, AS "NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK" Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E398] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2026, THROUGH MAY 17, 2026, AS ``NATIONAL AMERICAN BIRDING WEEK'' ______ HON. MARCY KAPTUR of ohio in the house of representatives Thursday, April 30, 2026 Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bipartisan resolution that I am introducing with my Ohio colleague, Representative Robert E. Latta, proclaiming May 8, 2026, through May 17, 2026, as National American Birding Week. Across our Nation, nearly 96 million birders contribute more than $90 billion in job income each year. That is not just recreation, that is an economic engine rooted in conservation. Each spring, an estimated 3.5 billion birds, representing over 350 species, make their journey north, many pausing along the shores of our Great Lakes to rest and refuel before crossing those vast freshwater horizons. In Northwest Ohio, we are blessed to witness this living miracle. Our Great Lakes region becomes a gathering place for people from across the globe--environmental stewards, scientists, families, and visitors--drawn by the beauty and wonder of migration. Events like the Biggest Week in American Birding, hosted by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor, showcase what is possible when conservation and economic development work hand in hand. These efforts sustain local communities, support small businesses, and deepen our understanding of the fragile ecosystems that sustain life. In Ohio, we are proud to welcome visitors from near and far. We cherish this freshwater kingdom and the life it sustains. And we remain committed to protecting it, so that generations to come may stand beneath open skies, watch the wings overhead, and know that nature still endures. ____________________