President Set to Sign Bill Officially Declaring the Bald Eagle as the National Bird of the United States

(KNSI) — The President is getting ready to sign a bill designating the bald eagle as the National Bird of the United States.

Bipartisan legislation to officially make the designation came from Minnesota’s Democratic U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, Republican Congressman Brad Finstad (CD1), and Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig (CD2). Others who worked on the bill include Republican Senators from Oklahoma and Wyoming and Minnesota Congressional Representatives Dean Phillips (D-CD3), Tom Emmer (R-CD6), Betty McCollum (D-CD4), Ilhan Omar (D-CD5), Michelle Fischbach (R-CD7), and Pete Stauber (R-CD8), and others from Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin introduced the companion legislation.

“The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength. In Minnesota, we take pride in our eagles: our state is home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the nation and the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” said Senator Klobuchar. “With the passage of this legislation, the bald eagle will be formally recognized as our nation’s national bird.”

“More than 240 years ago, our Founding Fathers chose the bald eagle as a symbol of strength and independence for our young nation. Since then, it has become an enduring icon of America,” said Representative Finstad. “Today, we take the long-overdue step of officially naming the bald eagle as our national bird. In Minnesota’s First District, we are especially proud to be home to the National Eagle Center, a leading institution dedicated to preserving the bald eagle and its cultural and historical significance. It’s been an honor to work alongside the Center to make this moment a reality.”

Preston Cook, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center and author of American Eagle – A Visual History of Our National Emblem, celebrated the legislation’s passage: “The bald eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782. With this legislation, we honor its historic role and reaffirm its place as a defining emblem of our national identity.”

The bald eagle has served as a powerful representation of the United States since June 20, 1782, when the Second Continental Congress approved its use on the Great Seal. Since then, the eagle’s image has appeared on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings, sports team logos, and other government symbols. This legislation solidifies its status as the official National Bird of the United States.

Having cleared both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the bill now awaits the President’s signature to become law.

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