SW Arkansas Times

Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) introduced the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2024.

"We can all agree that America’s rich biodiversity needs to be conserved for generations to come. However, while initially well-intentioned, radical environmentalists have weaponized the Endangered Species Act to the point where the current law has patently failed to achieve its goals for species recovery. With the modernizing legislation we’re introducing today, we will make long-overdue reforms to the ESA and ensure the continued abundance of America's wildlife," stated House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman.

"In the fifty years since its enactment, the Endangered Species Act has overwhelmingly failed in its mission to recover vulnerable species. In order to ensure that reforms to the ESA work for our species while also ending abuse of the law by anti-development activists, the Congressional Western Caucus and House Natural Resources Committee created the ‘ESA Working Group’ to propose solutions after hearing feedback from subject matter experts. The ESA Amendments Act is the result of this group, and I’m proud to introduce the bill along with Chairman Westerman. This bill will help recover species while allowing rural America to prosper," said Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse.

Since Congress enacted the ESA in 1973, approximately 1,700 species have been listed as threatened or endangered, not counting experimental populations. Only 3 percent of these species have ever been recovered and delisted.

The Biden-Harris administration has taken steps to undo critical work done by the Trump administration to reform the ESA. Of particular concern were three rules proposed by the Biden-Harris administration that would have significant consequences for species across the country.

Westerman and Newhouse formed a bipartisan Endangered Species Act Working Group in July 2023 to collect stakeholder feedback and develop a long-term course of action to modernize the ESA. Throughout a year-long process, members met with stakeholders to discuss necessary reforms. The Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2024 is a result of this group's efforts. It makes critical reforms to clarify existing definitions and establish an environmental baseline for measuring successful outcomes. The legislation aims to incentivize recovery efforts for listed species, promote conservation on private and public lands, and create greater transparency and accountability in regulatory processes.