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 and cultural symbol of the United States; Whereas bison are integrally linked with the economic and spiritual lives of many Indian Tribes through trade and sacred ceremonies; Whereas there are approximately 82 Indian Tribes participating in the InterTribal Buffalo Council, which is a Tribal organization incorporated pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the Indian Reorganization Act ) (48 Stat. 988, chapter 576; 25 U.S.C. 5124 ); Whereas numerous members of Indian Tribes are involved in bison restoration on Tribal land; Whereas members of Indian Tribes have a combined herd of almost 25,000 bison on more than 1,000,000 acres of Tribal land in 22 States; Whereas bison play an important role in the health of the wildlife, landscapes, and grasslands of the United States; Whereas bison hold significant economic value for private producers and Tribal and rural communities; Whereas, as of 2017, the Department of Agriculture estimates that 182,780 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 has been depicted on the official seal of the Department of the Interior since 1912; Whereas the Department of the Interior has launched the Bison Conservation Initiative, a 10-year cooperative initiative to coordinate the conservation and restoration of wild American bison; 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 and businesses have the bison as a mascot, which highlights the iconic and cultural significance of bison in the United States