The Federal Endangered Species Act remains one of our most effective and popular resource protection laws. It has been under unprecedented attack in the current Congress. Scientific and environmental organizations are responding to the challenges to the Act.
On November 5, 25 U.S. Senators publicly joined the growing movement to keep the Act science-based and intact.
From the Ecological Society of America:
APPROPRIATIONS: SENATORS URGE PRESIDENT TO OPPOSE ENDANGERED SPECIES RIDERS
Twenty-five US Senators sent a
letter to President Obama urging him to reject any spending bills that include provisions to undermine Endangered Species Act protection efforts. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA spearheaded the letter. No Republicans were among the signers.
"Unfortunately, just as we face enormous threats to our planet's biodiversity, some in Congress are seeking to undermine the Endangered Species Act," the letter reads. "More than 80 legislative proposals have already been introduced in this Congress to undermine key pieces of this vital law and to block protections for particular species. All such legislative attacks - including the record number of FY 2016 Interior appropriations riders - undermine the Endangered Species Act, which calls for science-based decision-making to protect all wildlife, plants, and fish that are in danger of extinction."
Under the Republican-controlled Congress, numerous pieces of legislation introduced would either unilaterally delist certain species from federal protection under the law or place limits of its enforcement capability. However, very few of these bills have passed committee or reached the House or Senate floor for a vote. President Obama is also unlikely to sign bills that would undermine Endangered Species Act protection efforts. Consequently, lawmakers looking to restrict or rescind certain species protections have sought to include legislative language ("riders") in must-pass appropriations bills that continue government funding.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe is open to reforming the Endangered Species Act, noting the last comprehensive legislation was enacted in 1988. However, he has been critical of the reforms that have been pushed by Congressional Republicans.
Click here to view Sen. Booker's press release, which includes the full text of the letter:
Action Alerts and Press releases from others on the ESA letter:
