The bald eagle is poised to officially rise to its long-assumed perch as the national bird of the United States if House members follow suit when they return from recess and pass legislation that sailed through the Senate.
The Senate took the first step toward that designation on July 29 by unanimously passing a bill offered by members of both parties from states with large populations of eagles, including Minnesota and Wyoming.
The proposal now awaits potential action in the House. Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., has sponsored the House companion bill with bipartisan support from a dozen other members.
