A bill to officially make the bald eagle the U.S. national bird has taken flight.
The bill will head to President Joe Biden for his approval after members of the House of Representatives OK’d it Monday, per The Hill.
The bald eagle has been a symbol of the U.S. since 1782 when it was put on the Great Seal of the United States by the Second Continental Congress.
But that was as far as it went — it was never the official national bird under U.S. law. That could change.
“The bald has long been associated with and a symbol of the United States. … The bald eagle appears on the flags and insignia of our military, on passports and currency. It appears on the flags of several states as well,” Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) said about the bill. “The bald eagle is also important to Native American tribes across the United States. It plays a key role in sacred belief systems and traditions, stories, ceremonies, and insignias.”
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) added the bald eagle is a “cherished” symbol for which “football fans in my district share a special affection,” referring to the Eagles NFL team.
The bill was introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in June. Reps. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) undertook the effort in the House.
“The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength. In Minnesota, we know a thing or two about eagles: we are home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the country as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” Klobuchar said.
