SW Arkansas Times

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This announcement has prompted House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman to call for reforms to the ESA.

"Over the course of its 50-year run, the ESA has failed to achieve its basic goals of species recovery," Westerman stated. "The proposed listing of the monarch butterfly is more evidence of the desperate need for ESA reform. We must prioritize solutions that empower states and local landowners while maintaining healthy ecosystems across the country."

Westerman highlighted his introduction of two legislative efforts earlier this year: the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act and the ESA Amendments Act. These initiatives aim to update existing legislation and ensure long-term wildlife health in America.

The USFWS's proposal includes a 4(d) rule, allowing certain exceptions from ESA take prohibitions for the monarch butterfly, whose historic range covers much of North America, including parts of Mexico and Canada. In 2020, a determination was made that listing was "warranted but precluded by higher priority actions."

In response to these developments, Westerman and Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse formed a bipartisan Endangered Species Act Working Group in July 2023. The group gathered feedback from stakeholders over a year to develop strategies for modernizing the ESA. Their efforts led to the introduction of the ESA Amendments Act of 2024, which seeks to incentivize species recovery by promoting conservation on both private and public lands while increasing state regulatory opportunities.

Westerman also introduced the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act in February 2024. This legislation proposes policy reforms focused on recovery, requiring federal establishment of objective recovery goals for listed species. It offers incentives through incremental relief from regulations as these goals are met, ultimately preparing for state management after recovery targets are achieved.