Supporting recognition of 2026 as the "International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1144 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1144

     Supporting recognition of 2026 as the ``International Year of
                     Rangelands and Pastoralists''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 27, 2026

Ms. Maloy (for herself, Mr. Costa, Mr. Mann, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Ms.
 King-Hinds, Mr. Fulcher, Ms. Hageman, and Mr. Grothman) submitted the
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
   Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

     Supporting recognition of 2026 as the ``International Year of
                     Rangelands and Pastoralists''.

Whereas rangelands cover up to 770,000,000 acres of land in the United States;
Whereas rangelands include prairies, grasslands, pampas, shrublands, wetlands,
        woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras inhabited by
        grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs that comprise nearly 36
        percent of land in the United States;
Whereas rangelands are economically, socially, and culturally vital to human
        communities through an array of ecological services, water resources,
        biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration and storage,
        and provide renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and aesthetic
        and recreational opportunities;
Whereas American rangelands are crucial for domestic production of forage, food,
        and fiber like beef, lamb, wool, and hides, as more than 50 percent of
        the national sheep herd and 60 percent of the Western cattle herd spend
        some time on Federal public rangelands;
Whereas rangelands cover over half the terrestrial surface of the globe,
        totaling more than 19,800,000,000 acres and supporting nearly
        2,000,000,000 people;
Whereas pastoral grazing management decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfire
        by up to 60 percent, makes rangelands more diverse and resilient, and
        increases biodiversity;
Whereas pastoralists are the ranchers, nomads, and transhumant herders who raise
        livestock or semi-domesticated animals as they steward and protect these
        rangelands;
Whereas American pastoralists and ranchers have generations of traditional
        knowledge in managing these landscapes and use science-based management,
        adaptive grazing practices, and emerging information and technologies to
        support ecological balance and economic productivity;
Whereas American ranchers and land management stewards work with the Federal
        Government to manage 43 percent of the rangelands across the country,
        with millions of acres managed as private land on agricultural
        operations;
Whereas rangelands and the pastoralists who manage them play a key role in
        domestic food security, rural community viability, and ecosystem health
        in the United States and worldwide;
Whereas the United Nations, in recognition of the vital nature of rangelands and
        the significance of pastoralism to the stewardship and societal benefits
        of rangelands, designated 2026 as the ``International Year of Rangelands
        and Pastoralists'';
Whereas national, regional, provincial, and local governments around the world
        will celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in
        2026 through education, research, advertisements, films, and advocacy
        efforts that are supportive of rangelands and pastoralists; and
Whereas the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists provides an
        opportunity for the United States to highlight the contributions of
        pastoralists, ranchers, farmers, scientists, and land managers in the
        United States and across the world who work on behalf of multiple-use
        and sustainable rangeland management: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports recognizing the ``International Year of
        Rangelands and Pastoralists'';
            (2) recognizes the economic, social, and ecological
        importance of rangelands and the ranchers, farmers, land
        managers, pastoralists, and partners who have been caretakers
        of the American rangelands for generations; and
            (3) encourages Federal agencies, universities, and
        organizations across the country to engage in activities that
        promote education, research, and outreach related to rangeland
        management.
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