House Committee Hearing on Expansive Wildlife Extinction Package

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on an expansive anti-wildlife package of bills that would weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), our nation’s most effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction.

Members of the Congressional Western Caucus announced in July their legislation that would cripple this highly successful law. This package of nine bills joins more than 100 other anti-ESA bills, amendments and riders introduced in this Congress. It also comes amidst a proposal by the Trump administration that would rewrite the regulations that implement the Endangered Species Act.

Bob Dreher, Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs at Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“The wildlife extinction package is an extreme and all-encompassing assault on the Endangered Species Act. These bills discard science, increasing the likelihood of harm to species and habitat, create hurdles to protecting species, and undermine citizen’s ability to enforce the law in court, while delegating authority for species management to states – or even corporations and individuals – that are ill-equipped to assume it.

“The Congressional Western Caucus and anti-Endangered Species Act members, including Rep. Rob Bishop, have had their sights set on killing the Endangered Species Act from day one of this Congress. Yet an overwhelming majority of Americans, including many of their constituents, want to protect this bedrock environmental law and save grizzly bears, manatees, wolves and other endangered wildlife. Our nation and our planet are facing an extinction crisis of epic proportion. Instead of trying to destroy the Act, these members of Congress should work to strengthen it and provide the resources the Act badly needs to save species.”