Washington, D.C.-Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and over a quarter of his Senate colleagues joined together to sponsor a Senate resolution commemorating the centennial anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The bipartisan resolution, which passed the Senate last night by unanimous consent, highlights President Theodore Roosevelt’s vision of preserving the nation’s natural heritage for future generations.

“In the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt, I applaud the National Wildlife Refuge System and its mission of stewardship,” Sen. Inhofe said. “This is a significant milestone and a testament to the success and support of the program.”

President Theodore Roosevelt established the first wildlife refuge, Pelican Island, in1903. Currently, there are 540 refuges that receive over 35 million visitors annually. Over half of the refuges are open to hunting and fishing.

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