Assembly Resolution No. 1510

BY: M. of A. Rules (Brown K)

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
June 20, 2026, as American Eagle Day in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that seek to raise public awareness of the unique role
played by national symbols and to honor the majestic wildlife that
reflects the rich natural heritage of our Nation; and

WHEREAS, June 20, 2026, marks the annual observance of American
Eagle Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the return, protection, and
continued recovery of the bald eagle, the national bird and symbol of
the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The bald eagle, a powerful bird of prey indigenous to North
America, has long stood as a symbol of strength, determination, and
honor; before European colonization, bald eagles soared through the
skies across the continent, witnessing the rise and fall of
civilizations; and

WHEREAS, On June 20, 1782, the Second Continental Congress
officially adopted the bald eagle as the emblem of the United States,
signifying freedom and resilience; and

WHEREAS, In the early years of the Republic, over 100,000 nesting
pairs of bald eagles populated the skies of the United States; however,
the species experienced a sharp decline throughout the 19th and 20th
centuries due to illegal hunting, habitat destruction, lead poisoning,
pesticide exposure, and other environmental hazards; and

WHEREAS, The passage of the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940 marked
a significant step toward safeguarding the species by prohibiting the
killing, selling, or possession of bald eagles; and

WHEREAS, Despite these protections, bald eagle populations continued
to decline, and by 1967, they were listed as an endangered species,
largely due to the devastating effects of the pesticide D.D.T., which
interfered with the birds' calcium metabolism and led to weakened
eggshells and reproductive failure; and

WHEREAS, The publication of Rachel Carson's landmark book "Silent
Spring" brought national attention to the environmental dangers of
D.D.T., catalyzing a movement that culminated in the United States
banning the pesticide in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Through sustained conservation efforts, public education,
habitat protection, and regulatory enforcement, the bald eagle has made
a remarkable recovery, with current estimates exceeding 300,000
individuals across the country; and

WHEREAS, American Eagle Day provides an opportunity to reflect on
the importance of environmental stewardship, celebrate the resurgence of
this iconic bird, and promote awareness about its role in the ecosystem

and its cultural significance to the United States; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 20, 2026, as American
Eagle Day in the State of New York, and to commend all those who have
worked to protect and conserve this treasured national symbol; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.