Under New Leadership, House Committee Takes Steps to Fight Wildlife Extinction

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife heard expert testimony on the state of wildlife in the United States. Wildlife in every part of the nation face new threats from the effects of climate change on habitat, the Trump administration’s plans to gut the protection of the Endangered Species Act, and continued efforts to construct a wall along the U.S. Southern border which fragments migration corridors and increases flooding, resulting in more destruction of habitat.

The Endangered Species Act has been extremely effective -- more than 99 percent of plants, animals and insects protected by the law have been saved from extinction. As climate change creates new problems every year for wildlife habitats, the last Congress made more than 115 attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act.

In response, Sierra Club Associate Legislative Director Kirin Kennedy released the following statement:

"Today’s hearing is a refreshing step in the right direction toward better oversight on this administration’s policies toward wildlife. In the last two years, the Endangered Species Act has been under serious political attack by the Trump administration and their friends in industries like oil, gas and mining.

“Instead of addressing real threats to wildlife and communities like climate change and disaster preparedness, the Trump Administration is brazenly pushing for increased mileage, higher and more destructive border walls-- which would inflict irreversible damage on wildlife habitat and threatened species. We encourage Congress’ efforts to call out this disastrous, vanity project.

We are very pleased to see the Committee stepping up and working to protect our wildlife from extinction. We look forward to working with Representatives who will use the best science and policy to protect endangered species.”