A bipartisan bill that would officially recognize the bald eagle, one of America’s most iconic animals, as the national bird will head to the desk of President Joe Biden for signature after the House passed legislation on Monday.
“My bipartisan legislation to recognize the Bald Eagle as our national bird just passed Congress and is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law!” Sen. Amy Klobuchar confirmed on X. The bald eagle, which has been a symbol of the United States since it appeared on the Great Seal in 1782, has never been designated into law as the official national bird.
“Since the founding of our nation, the bald eagle has existed as a symbol of our country’s independence, strength, and freedom. Prominently displayed on our official currency, military uniforms, and our government buildings, the bald eagle stands as the undisputed representative of the United States of America,” Rep. Brad Finstad, who helped lead the House effort with Rep. Angie Craig, said in a statement.
The legislation was introduced in June by Klobuchar and Sens. Markwayne Mullin, Cynthia Lummis, and Tina Smith. The bill later passed the Senate, unanimously, in July.
Klobuchar lauded the bird’s significance and said the bald eagle symbolizes “freedom” and “strength.”
“In Minnesota, we know a thing or two about eagles: we are home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the country as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” the senator added.
The National Eagle Center also played a central role in pushing for the legislation. Preston Cook, co-chair of the center’s National Bird Initiative, celebrated its passage.
“This is an exciting day,” Cook said. “With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity.”
The bald eagle, once on the brink of extinction, has made a “remarkable” comeback in recent years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bald eagle population had been decimated due to habitat loss, illegal shooting, and food source contamination — largely by the use of toxic DDT pesticides, the wildlife agency said.
Decades of conservation efforts have contributed to the bald eagle’s resurgence, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.
The majestic bird will join other national symbols including the Great Seal of the United States and the U.S. Flag.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bald eagle bipartisan bill heads to the White House for signature
