Whereas on May 9, 2016, the North American bison was adopted as the national mammal of the United States; Whereas bison are considered a historical symbol of the United States; Whereas bison were integrally linked with the economic and spiritual lives of many Indian tribes through trade and sacred ceremonies; Whereas there are more than 60 Indian tribes participating in the Intertribal Buffalo Council; Whereas numerous members of Indian tribes are involved in bison restoration on tribal land; Whereas members of Indian tribes have a combined herd on more than 1,000,000 acres of tribal land; Whereas the Intertribal Buffalo Council is a tribal organization incorporated pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the Indian Reorganization Act ) ( 25 U.S.C. 477 ); Whereas bison can play an important role in improving the types of grasses found in landscapes to the benefit of grasslands; Whereas a bison has been depicted on the official seal of the Department of the Interior since 1912; Whereas bison hold significant economic value for private producers and rural communities; Whereas, as of 2012, the Department of Agriculture estimates that 162,110 head of bison were under the stewardship of private producers, creating jobs, and contributing to the food security of the United States by providing a sustainable and healthy meat source; Whereas a bison is portrayed on 2 State flags; Whereas the bison has been adopted by 3 States as the official mammal or animal of those States; Whereas the buffalo nickel played an important role in modernizing the currency of the United States; Whereas several sports teams have the bison as a mascot, which highlights the iconic significance of bison in the United States; Whereas a small group of ranchers helped save bison from extinction in the late 1800s by gathering the remaining bison of the diminished herds