By The Opinion
Dec 25, 2024, 17:55 PM EST
The bald eagle is a symbol of the United States. It appears on coins and banknotes, adorns the Great Seal, and inspired conservation efforts that saved the species from the brink of extinction. Although it was first used as a national symbol more than 240 years ago, Congress had never made it official.
However, President Joe Biden signed a bill sent to Congress that amends the United States Code to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle as the national bird.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and co-sponsored by fellow Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith.as well as by Republican Senators Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. The bill was introduced on June 20, 2024, which is also National American Eagle Day.
“The bald eagle has long been a symbol of freedom and patriotism for our nation,” said Senator Mullin in a statement touting the bill’s passage. “It is only right that we officially designate the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States. “I was glad to join my colleagues in leading this bipartisan effort and appreciate the House’s swift consideration.”
Bald eagles have had a long and somewhat checkered history in the U.S. The bird was officially adopted as part of the country’s Great Seal in 1782. and has since become synonymous with patriotism and other American values. But bald eagles were on the brink of extinction in the 1900s, and the species was designated as endangered in 1967. Since then, the species has recovered rapidly; In 2020, there were 316,700 bald eagles in the US, although more than 40 bald eagles succumbed to bird flu in 2022.
The bald eagle bill was one of 50 pieces of legislation Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve, including a federal anti-hazing law to address violence and deaths on college campuses.
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