The United States is on the verge of officially designating the bald eagle as its national bird, a move that has surprisingly never been formalized despite the bird's iconic status. This change comes after both the House and Senate voted unanimously to pass a bill that will now go to the President for signing. The initiative was spearheaded by Preston Cook, who discovered the omission while researching for a book. Cook, an avid collector of eagle memorabilia, partnered with the National Eagle Center and lawmakers to draft the legislation. His efforts highlight the bald eagle's symbolic representation of freedom, independence, and power in American culture. The bill's passage marks a rare bipartisan agreement in Congress and is supported by various organizations, including Native American tribes and the American Legion. Cook's passion for the bald eagle began in 1966 and has grown into a collection of over 40,000 eagle-related items, which are displayed at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota.