Republicans Seek To Weaken The Endangered Species Act

Last Wednesday February 15th, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing called “Oversight: Modernization of the Endangered Species Act” at which Republicans attacked the 43-year-old law as being broken and in need of an overhaul.  The Endangered Species Act, a law that has 90% approval ratings according to a 2015 poll, has more than 1,600 plants and animals under its protection.  

While Senate Republicans claim their effort is to "modernize" the ESA, the intentions to prioritize private enterprise over protection of biodiversity has long been clear. Earlier this month, Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) presented a bill that makes these intentions abundently clear.  It would require federal agencies to review and consider the economic effects of listing a species as threatened.  During the 114th Congress alone, 130 separate bills and amendments sought to weaken the law.

Yet, leaders in this field with direct familiarity with the operations of the Act state that significantly more funding is needed to promote the restoration of endangered species on the list rather than simply trying to keep up with the actual listing of species itself.  

Daniel Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, acknowledged the ESA is not perfect but said it is “the world’s gold standard” and is working well to save species from extinction. He warned against starting the debate with the assumption that the law is broken. “As this Congress considers its future, your goal should be to make it stronger, faster and better for the 21st century, because life literally depends upon it,” Ashe said. 

Senator Tom Carper (Delaware), the panel's top Democrat stated: “We should also keep in mind its purpose: to prevent the extinction of species and to do our best to restore those at risk,” he said. “I, for one, am reluctant to do anything to compromise the successes we have achieved.”

Source: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/319683-gop-considers-ways-to-modernize-species-law