118 STAT. 3934 PUBLIC LAW 108–486—DEC. 23, 2004 Public Law 108–486 108th Congress An Act To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, to America’s lands, waterways, and skies and the great importance of the designation of the American bald eagle as an ‘‘endangered’’ species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act’’. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds as follows: (1) The bald eagle was designated as the national emblem of the United States on June 20, 1782, by our country’s Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress. (2) The bald eagle is the greatest visible symbol of the spirit of freedom and democracy in the world. (3) The bald eagle species is unique to North America and represents the American values and attributes of freedom, courage, strength, spirit, loyalty, justice, equality, democracy, quality, and excellence. (4) The bald eagle is the central image used in the Great Seal of the United States and the seal of many branches and departments of the United States Government, including the President and the Vice President of the United States, the United States Congress, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Depart- ment of Homeland Security, and the United States Postal Service. (5) The bald eagle’s image and symbolism have played a profound role in establishing and honoring American beliefs and traditions. (6) The bald eagle’s image and symbolism have influenced American art, music, history, literature, commerce, and culture since the founding of our Nation. (7) The bald eagle species was once threatened with pos- sible extinction in the lower 48 States but is now making a gradual, encouraging recovery within America’s lands, water- ways, and skies. (8) The bald eagle was federally classified as an ‘‘endan- gered’’ species in 1973 under the Endangered Species Act of American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act. 31 USC 5112 note. Dec. 23, 2004 [H.R. 4116] VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:54 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00468 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.001 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4
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