Amendment to Exempt Defense Activity from the ESA Soundly Defeated

Defenders of Wildlife applauds the members of the House of Representatives who voted down a repeat amendment to H.R. 3838, the National Defense Authorization Act, which would have fully exempted defense-related activity from compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

This is the third year in a row Rep. Andy Biggs' (R-AZ) has attempted to include this amendment and the third time it has been rejected by the House of Representatives - this year it failed 200-228.

"It's clear that this amendment has no place in defense authorization as the Department of Defense has not asked for this exemption and has instead long worked, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies, to conserve fish and wildlife resources. Approximately 27 million acres of Department of Defense-managed land supports ecologically important habitats, making military installations a haven for fish, wildlife and plants," said Mary Beth Beetham, director of legislative affairs for Defenders of Wildlife. "The Endangered Species Act is overwhelmingly supported by the American public regardless of political party, and this vote signals that continued support. We thank every member of the House who voted against this reckless amendment."

Defenders and more than 80 organizations sent a letter of opposition to the House this week detailing the disastrous impacts of the Biggs' amendment.

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For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroomor follow us on X @Defenders.

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