A concurrent resolution affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and declaring that the purpose of reserving certain land as public land is to make the land available to the public for reasonable uses.

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13185)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 17, 2005

States that: (1) in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Congress demonstrated its clear intent to allow hunting and fishing on public lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System (the System); (2) the intent of Congress has not changed in any way since the date of enactment of that Act, and any assumption to the contrary is misguided and misinterprets the clear intent of Congress; and (3) the general purpose of reserving certain land as public land, including the land within the System, is to make the land available to the public for reasonable uses, which include hunting, fishing, other wildlife-dependent sports, and other outdoor purposes.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] · R–LA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 17, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13185)
Nov 17, 2005
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Nov 23, 2005 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Con.Res.66 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Con.Res.66, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and declaring that the purpose of reserving certain land as public land is to make the land available to the public for reasonable uses.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/66

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-11-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres66/BILLS-109sconres66is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:08Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.Con.Res.66 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.Con.Res.66 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Con.Res.66, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and declaring that the purpose of reserving certain land as public land is to make the land available to the public for reasonable uses.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/66

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-11-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres66/BILLS-109sconres66is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:08Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.Con.Res.66 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.Con.Res.66 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Con.Res.66, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and declaring that the purpose of reserving certain land as public land is to make the land available to the public for reasonable uses.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/66

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-11-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres66/BILLS-109sconres66is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:08Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.Con.Res.66 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.Con.Res.66 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Con.Res.66, 109th Congress: A concurrent resolution affirming that the intent of Congress in passing the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 was to allow hunting and fishing on public land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and declaring that the purpose of reserving certain land as public land is to make the land available to the public for reasonable uses.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/66

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2005-11-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/sconres66/BILLS-109sconres66is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:08Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.Con.Res.66 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.