Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2025, to October 31, 2025, as "Bat Week".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 811
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-17: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T11:49:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 811) expresses congressional support for designating the week of October 24, 2025, to October 31, 2025, as "Bat Week." It aims to raise awareness about the ecological, economic, and cultural importance of bats, while highlighting threats to their populations and ongoing conservation efforts.
Key Provisions
- Supports the official designation of "Bat Week" to educate the public on bats' roles in ecosystems.
- Encourages federal, state, and local entities, along with communities, to hold events and activities during the week focused on bat conservation and appreciation.
- Recognizes bats' contributions to agriculture as natural pollinators (aiding fruit and vegetable production), seed dispersers (for healthy forests and fields), and pest controllers (saving U.S. farmers over $3.7 billion annually in costs).
- Commends bats' global presence (over 1,400 species, second-largest mammal order) and their role in human culture through folklore, art, and myths.
- Addresses the threat of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats across 40 U.S. states and affected 12 hibernating species, including endangered ones like the northern long-eared bat (protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, a federal law safeguarding threatened wildlife and habitats).
- Highlights federal leadership in combating the disease through agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service (NPS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, over 150 state agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and universities.
- Notes the North American Bat Monitoring Program, co-led by USGS and FWS since 2015, which aggregates nearly 94 million bat records from 49 states, 9 Canadian provinces, and 20 Tribal organizations to track population changes.
- Affirms USGS's role in bat research to inform conservation decisions.
- Commits the House of Representatives to ongoing efforts to conserve bat species and habitats, and to eradicate white-nose syndrome through international collaboration.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws. As a non-binding House resolution, it serves as a symbolic statement of support rather than enforceable legislation.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Reinforces federal commitment to bat conservation, potentially boosting funding or coordination for programs like the North American Bat Monitoring Program, but without mandating new actions.
- On citizens: Increases public awareness and education about bats' benefits and threats, encouraging participation in conservation activities and reducing misconceptions (e.g., bats as pests rather than allies).
- On international relations: Strengthens U.S. collaboration with Canada and other partners on cross-border issues like white-nose syndrome, promoting shared scientific research without altering diplomatic policies.
- Overall, impacts are primarily educational and promotional, with no direct financial or regulatory effects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Wildlife and conservation groups: FWS, USGS, NPS, BLM, U.S. Forest Service, state agencies, Tribes, NGOs, and universities involved in bat research and monitoring.
- Agricultural sector: Farmers benefiting from bats' pest control and pollination services.
- General public: Citizens, educators, and communities engaging in outreach to appreciate bats' ecological and cultural value.
- Bats and ecosystems: Indirectly supports species like the tricolored bat, little brown bat, and northern long-eared bat facing population declines.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: No binding effects; it does not amend laws like the Endangered Species Act but references it to underscore protections for affected bats.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in expressing policy priorities under Article I, without infringing on executive or judicial branches.
- Political: Signals bipartisan interest in environmental conservation and agriculture, potentially influencing future appropriations or initiatives on wildlife diseases. It highlights collaborative federalism (involving states, Tribes, and locals) and international science partnerships, fostering goodwill in environmental policy without controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-17: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-10-17: Submitted in House
- 2025-10-17: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the designation of the week of October 24, 2025, to October 31, 2025, as "Bat Week". — issued 2025-10-17 — PDF (3 pages)