Riders Take Aim at Gray Wolves and the ESA

According to a new national poll from Earthjustice and Defenders of Wildlife, 90% of American registered voters support the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and 71% of voters believe ESA listing decisions should be made by scientists, not by politicians.

And yet a bill debated on the House floor just yesterday, the 2016 House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, includes 25 anti-environment riders which stand to threaten the integrity and effectiveness of this cornerstone of environmental law. Among the riders in Section 121 is language directing the Secretary of the Interior to end federal protections for gray wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Wyoming and thus allow trophy hunting of wolves to resume within these regions. To add insult to injury, Section 121 includes “no judicial review” clauses thus prohibiting any legal challenge.

House debate on the bill began yesterday, but votes on amendments (riders) will occur TODAY when the House comes back into session at noon. Thus it’s critical that we take action NOW.

Please contact your representative before 12pm EST and ask him or her to:

• Oppose the anti-ESA riders and reject all attempts to legislatively strip protections from wolves through the Interior Appropriations Bill.
• Vote “YES” on the Niki Tsongas (D-MA) amendment to strike anti-ESA riders (including the wolf delisting rider) from the bill.
• Oppose the Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) amendment which aims to block ESA protections for wolves in Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Find Your Representative Here Thank you!