---
kind: "section"
citation: "36 U.S.C. § 701"
title: "36"
title_heading: "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations"
number: "701"
heading: "Findings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/36/701"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Patriotic and National Observances and Ceremonies"
  - "Part A — Observances and Ceremonies"
  - "Chapter 7 — Federal Participation in Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day"
---

# §701. Findings


Congress finds that—

- (1) Federal lands, parks, recreation areas, and waterways provide recreational opportunities for millions of Americans each year;
- (2) Federal lands administered by Federal land management agencies contain valuable wildlife, scenery, natural and historic features, and other resources which may be damaged by litter and misuse;
- (3) it is in the best interest of the United States and its citizens to maintain and preserve the beauty, safety, and availability of these Federal lands;
- (4) these Federal land management agencies have been designated as the caretakers of these Federal lands and are responsible for maintaining and preserving those areas and facilities;
- (5) there is great value in volunteer involvement in maintaining and preserving Federal lands for recreational use;
- (6) the Federal land management agencies should be concerned with promoting a sense of pride and ownership among citizens toward these lands;
- (7) the use of citizen volunteers in a national cleanup effort promotes these goals and encourages the thoughtful use of these Federal lands and facilities;
- (8) the positive impact of annual cleanup events held at various recreation sites has already been proven by steadily declining levels of litter at these sites; and
- (9) a national program for cleaning and maintaining Federal lands using volunteers will save millions of tax dollars.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1266.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 701 | 36:169i note. | Aug. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–402, § 2, 100 Stat. 910. |

In clause (2), the words “the several” are omitted as unnecessary.