Bill to officially make bald eagle national bird heads to Biden’s desk

A bill to officially designate the bald eagle as the national bird will head to President Biden’s desk after passage in the House on Monday.

While the bald eagle has been a major national symbol since the Second Continental Congress in 1782 put the bird on the Great Seal of the United States, it has never been specifically designated as the national bird under U.S. law.

But that would change with enactment of the bill that passed the House by voice vote on Monday.

"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 on the House floor on Monday, speaking in support of 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.) said that in addition to the national significance, the bald eagle is a "cherished" symbol for which "football fans in my district share a special affection,” in reference to the Eagles NFL team.

The same chapter of U.S. law that would enshrine the bald eagle as the national bird also designates "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem; “In God we trust” as the national motto; the rose as the national floral emblem; "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as the national march; and the oak tree as the national tree. Congress has also designated the bison as the national mammal. 

The bill was first introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in June, and it passed the Senate by unanimous consent at the end of July. Reps. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) led 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 in a statement on passage of the legislation.

The effort to enshrine the bald eagle’s national bird status was led by the Minnesota-based National Eagle Center, and the co-chair of its national bird initiative, Preston Cook.

“This is an exciting day. The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782,” Cook said in a statement. “With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity.”

Bald eagles are also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibit killing, selling or harming bald eagles, their nests or their eggs.

Previously on the endangered species lists, bald eagles have seen a “remarkable population rebound” in the last few decades, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Updated at 6:45 p.m.