House of Representatives Pulls Bill To Gut Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on Earth Day, the House of Representatives removed a bill from consideration that, if passed, would have dangerous consequences for endangered and threatened species across the country. The "ESA Amendments Act" ( HR 1897 ), sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), proposes to drastically weaken the Endangered Species Act by rewriting key portions of the bedrock environmental law, decreasing protections for imperiled wildlife.

Among the bill's numerous harmful provisions, it would extend timelines for listing processes, allowing imperiled species to continue to decline while decisions are pending. It would also fast-tracking timelines on delistings, arbitrarily limit federal agencies' role in managing listed species, increase the allowable "take" - or the hunting, wounding, trapping, or killing - of threatened species, and narrow critical habitat designations.

Since it was signed into law in 1973 by President Richard Nixon, the Endangered Species Act has helped more than 99 percent of listed species avoid extinction, with many on the road to population recovery. In a recent national poll, 84% of Americans said they support the implementation of Endangered Species Act measures to prevent extinction.

In response, Bradley Williams, Deputy Legislative Director for Wildlife and Lands Protection at the Sierra Club, released the following statement:

"We are encouraged to see that the House of Representatives has pulled this bill after outcry from Republicans and Democrats. By rejecting a bill that would have gutted protections for endangered and threatened species across the country, Congress is sending a clear message that protecting wildlife is a shared American value, not a partisan issue. As we celebrate Earth Day, we applaud the House of Representatives for declining consideration of this extremely harmful legislation."