Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-519-8449
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House Natural Resources Committee today passed a suite of bills undermining the Endangered Species Act. The action is the latest in a string of anti-wildlife actions by the committee this week.
Among the bills are H.R. 3608, H.R. 6345, H.R. 6346 and H.R. 6355. Taken together these bills would undermine the vital role of science in the listing process, hand over undue authority to states to implement the Endangered Species Act, make it more difficult for species to secure federal protection, expedite species delistings, and block citizens’ access to the courts to help to enforce the law.
In response, Jordan Giaconia, Sierra Club federal policy associate for Defense issued the following statement.
“The Endangered Species Act is one of our country’s most successful conservation safeguards, thanks largely to its focus on sound science. Allowing politics to shift that focus away from what’s good for wildlife to what’s good for mining, drilling and logging industries and their friends in Congress will have long-term negative consequences. Extinction is forever. The House must stand up for endangered species by fully funding and implementing the Endangered Species Act, not undermining it.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.