Whereas today over 80 percent of Americans live in or near cities with limited opportunities to access nature or experience outdoor recreation; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that youth ages 8 to 18 spend on average between 6 to 9 hours a day in front of screens; Whereas the National Wildlife Refuge System, within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, manages 566 national wildlife refuges, a national network of lands and waters managed for the benefit of America’s fish, wildlife, and plants; Whereas national wildlife refuges provide opportunities for children and people of all ages to discover and gain a greater appreciation for the natural world and the fact that there is a refuge located within a 1-hour drive of every metropolitan area in the United States; Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is an innovative model that centers on introducing Americans living in densely populated areas to the over 100 national wildlife refuges near urban areas and that provides a strategic opportunity to promote wildlife conservation and enjoyment of hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation in the heart of where people live; Whereas urban wildlife refuges enhance and celebrate the grassroots efforts of local communities to protect local watersheds and ecosystems; Whereas the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program focuses on public-private partnerships to deliver greater wildlife conservation and access to recreation, including outdoor traditions like hunting and fishing, both on and off national wildlife refuges, collaborating and aligning with local efforts to enhance the visitor experience