[118th Congress Public Law 206]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 138 STAT. 2699]]

Public Law 118-206
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the bald eagle as 
        the national bird. <<NOTE: Dec. 23, 2024 -  [S. 4610]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF BALD EAGLE AS NATIONAL BIRD.

    (a) <<NOTE: 36 USC 306 note.>> Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) bald eagles are a historical symbol of the United States 
        representing independence, strength, and freedom;
            (2) the bald eagle is unique to North America;
            (3) on June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was adopted as the Coat 
        of Arms for the United States Great Seal;
            (4) the bald eagle image remains the leading insignia for 
        all branches of the United States military;
            (5) the bald eagle is the leading image on thousands of 
        Federal Government branches, departments, and agencies, 
        including the President, Vice-President, Congress, and Senate;
            (6) the bald eagle serves as the logo, trademark, and brand 
        icon for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and sports teams 
        across the United States;
            (7) bald eagles are integral to the spiritual lives and 
        sacred belief systems of most Indigenous peoples and Tribal 
        communities;
            (8) bald eagles are prevalent in belief, practice, stories, 
        ceremonies, dance, traditions, songs, regalia, flags, insignias, 
        arts, craft, and other forms of spiritual reverence;
            (9) bald eagle festivals are--
                    (A) held in over 100 locations across the United 
                States; and
                    (B) key components of community engagement;
            (10) the bald eagle is prevalent on--
                    (A) hundreds of United States stamps; and
                    (B) many United States coins and currencies;
            (11) the bald eagle is a primary component and symbol on 
        Federal and State flags throughout the United States; and
            (12) joint efforts of the Federal Government and State and 
        local governments, nonprofit organizations, and individuals have 
        contributed to the successful recovery of the bald eagle.

    (b) Designation.--Chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 306. <<NOTE: 36 USC 306.>> National bird

    ``The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the national bird.''.

[[Page 138 STAT. 2700]]

    (c) Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections for chapter 3 of 
title 36, United States Code, <<NOTE: 36 USC prec. 301.>> is amended--
            (1) in the chapter heading, by striking ``AND TREE'' and 
        inserting ``TREE, AND BIRD''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

``306. National bird.''.

    (d) <<NOTE: 36 USC 306 note.>> Rule of Construction.--Nothing in 
this section, the amendments made by this section, or the adoption of 
the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States may be 
construed or used as a reason to alter, change, modify, or otherwise 
affect any plan, policy, management decision, regulation, or other 
action of the Federal Government.

    Approved December 23, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 4610:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
            July 29, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 16, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>