Palila by Jack Jeffery

(Washington, D.C., August 1, 2011) H.R. 2584, an environmental spending bill to fund the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Interior for Fiscal Year 2012 is still being considered by the House of Representatives.  The bill originally included language that effectively gutted the Endangered Species Act by preventing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from listing new species, designating Critical Habitat that is vital to a species' survival, or assisting law enforcement to protect species.

American Bird Conservancy and several other conservation groups mobilized their staff and action lists to combat this destructive provision. Thanks in part to this groundswell of public outcry, last Wednesday the House passed an amendment offered by Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) that stripped the Endangered Species Act provision from the spending bill. This amendment was supported by 37 Republicans, illustrating that there still exists bipartisan support for the Endangered Species Act. Two Democrats — Reps. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Dennis Cardoza of California — voted against it.

Unfortunately, the attacks on the Endangered Species Act continue; an amendment may be offered to block the listing of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken.

It now looks like the House of Representatives will not finish considering this spending bill until after they return from the August recess, and there is a chance that they might not consider it at all upon their return.

Thank you to all American Bird Conservancy BirdWire subscribers who took action to help crush the Endangered Species Act rider in this bill. Your efforts helped make the difference!

If you'd like to get email alerts like the one that helped gain this victory, click here!