PRINTER'S NO. 3268
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
470
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY HADDOCK, ROZZI, HILL-EVANS, GREINER, R. MACKENZIE,
CONKLIN, VENKAT, HARKINS, MERSKI, PROBST, HOWARD,
SCHLOSSBERG, DONAHUE, SANCHEZ, DALEY, CURRY, GREEN, O'MARA
AND GERGELY, JUNE 7, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, JUNE 7, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing August 9, 2024, as "Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Smokey Bear is considered the longest-running public
service advertisement campaign in the history of the United
States and one of the most recognized characters in the world;
and
WHEREAS, Smokey Bear was created on August 9, 1944, by the
United States Forest Service and the United States Advertising
Council; and
WHEREAS, The United States Forest Service is the official
licensor of Smokey Bear, whose likeness is protected by law as a
Congressional trademark; and
WHEREAS, Smokey Bear is depicted as an American black bear
and known for wearing a personalized ranger hat, blue jeans and
a belt, standing upright with his shovel in hand; and
WHEREAS, In a 2023 survey, the Ad Council reported that 80%
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
of respondents were able to recognize Smokey Bear by his image
alone and nearly half of the respondents knew a few lessons on
preventing wildfires taught by Smokey Bear's campaign; and
WHEREAS, Smokey Bear's famous slogan is "Only YOU Can Prevent
Wildfires" to help promote wildfire prevention and safety; and
WHEREAS, Smokey Bear educates both children and adults to
"always be careful with fire," "never play with matches or
lighters," "always watch your campfire" and "make sure your
campfire is completely out before leaving it"; and
WHEREAS, Humans are the cause of nearly 85% of all wildfires
in the United States due to leaving campfires unattended,
burning debris unsupervised, equipment malfunctioning,
carelessly tossing cigarettes or, more seriously, purposefully
committing arson; and
WHEREAS, A congressional report from 2023 showed that
wildfires cost the United States economy between $394 billion
and $893 billion annually; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania was recently affected by Canadian
wildfires in 2023, when the Department of Environmental
Protection declared a Code Red for air quality due to smoke from
the fires blowing toward this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is home to 16.6 million acres of
forest, representing more than 60% of Pennsylvania's land; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's forests employ more than 60,000
people through our wood products industry that harvests what is
considered the finest hardwood timber in the world; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania forests see tens of millions of
visitors each year as our forests provide plenty of space for
recreational activities such as hiking, camping and fall foliage
viewing; and
20240HR0470PN3268 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
WHEREAS, Forests help combat environmental factors, such as
removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, supplying drinking
water, protecting thousands of streams and providing a buffer
from floods, thereby protecting homes and buildings; and
WHEREAS, Animals such as the bald eagle, wild turkey, black
bear, red and grey foxes, white-tailed deer and red and evening
bats living in Pennsylvania depend on vast forest ecosystems for
survival; and
WHEREAS, All year long, the United States Forest Service will
be celebrating Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday with planned
activities and social media campaigns; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize August
9, 2024, as "Smokey Bear's 80th Birthday" in Pennsylvania.
20240HR0470PN3268 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13