Alert: Endangered Species Act Amendment

Jun 2, 2017 | 2017 Blog

HR48 “American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act” and the SAVES Act as HR930 and S276

UPDATE 2/9/21: The SAVES Act (see details below) has been re-introduced this session in both the Senate and House. S276 and HR930 would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prohibit the listing of living nonnative species as threatened or endangered species. S276 was introduced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. HR930 was introduced by Texas Representative Louie Gohmert. We will have more details soon. You can read the bill at https://www.cruz.senate.gov/files/documents/Bills/SAVES%20Act–117th%20Congress%20with%20Paul.pdf.

UPDATE from 1/5/21: U.S. Representative Biggs (Arizona) has introduced HR48. This is an act to amend the Endangered Species Act to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes.

HR48 amends the Endangered Species Act by adding this text: “(D) NOT NATIVE SPECIES.—The Secretary may not determine that a species is an endangered species or a threatened species pursuant to section 4 if such species is not native to the United States.” HR 48 has been assigned to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife under the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Read HR48 at https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/48/text.

The text below provides a historical record of previous bills with the same intent but the messaging remains relevant. We will post an alert specific to HR48 soon. The text was just released.

UPDATE from 8/1/19: The new SAVES Act bill, S2374, has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Cruz. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. S2374 prohibits the listing of nonnative species under ESA. LINK: www.congress.gov/116/bills/s2374/BILLS-116s2374is.pdf

UPDATE from 2/5/19: The new SAVES Act bill, HR30, was introduced by Representative Louie Gohmert in January. It was referred to the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife today.

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Like many aspects of our world today, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) must evolve and see change. Enacted in 1973, ESA is now outdated and extremely flawed. While well-intended in 1973, the regulation of nonnative species through ESA just does not work (especially since FWS has no authority to regulate the wildlife in foreign countries and profiteering “enviro” groups now manipulate ESA for fraudulent fundraising, thus costing the Government many millions of dollars which could instead be used for legitimate conservation).

In fact, the listing of nonnative species under the ESA is not just redundant and pointless, the ESA is actually harmful to conservation efforts for nonnative species. Through modern, multifaceted methodologies such as conservation through education, utilization of captive populations, and consideration of genetic diversity, we can do better than the archaic 1973 law. Currently, ESA places severe restrictions on interstate movement and effectively creates detrimental genetic islands limited to populations within states. The ESA does nothing to conserve or protect the habitat for nonnative species, merely giving lip service to conservation while hindering real conservation and education efforts.

For many years now, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has been the global organization administering international trade and movement of endangered and threatened species. CITES is now an incredibly robust worldwide society with nearly 200 member countries.

For many reasons, ESA should not include nonnative species, but should focus entirely on native species. America must more efficiently utilize and protect the resources we have. We must tighten the reins and terminate wasteful expenditures of our money and energy. Regarding this issue, that means turning ESA’s focus solely to native species, while collaborating with CITES for nonnative species matters.

While well-intentioned, the ESA is now more than 50 years old and desperately needs amendments and modernization. ESA has become overreaching and draconian, especially regarding Captive Bred Wildlife (CBW) permits for nonnative species.

Let’s bring conservation into the 21st Century by removing the duplicate listings of nonnative species on the ESA and allowing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus on saving America’s endangered species.

Read the bill language at www.usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-HR-2603-ESA.pdf.

Thanks to Texas Representative Gohmert for sponsoring this bill, and to the original co-sponsors with hopefully more to follow soon:

Texas Rep. Babin, Arizona Rep. Gosar, Colorado Rep. Tipton, Arizona Rep. Westerman, Iowa Rep. King, Texas Rep. Burgess, Louisiana Rep. Abraham, Kansas Rep. Marshall, California Rep. Hunter, Texas Rep. Farenthold

What to do

At this time, we need more federal co-sponsors (House) and Representatives need to hear support for H.R.2603.

  1. Find contact information for Representatives at www.house.gov/representatives/find/;
    1. Contact both federal and district offices.
  2. It has been assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources;
    1. Use the sample email, Talking Points, and sample phone message to contact them at:
    2. email to: www.naturalresources.house.gov/contact/
    3. call at (202) 225-2761.
    4. Call and email committee members. All contact information can be found at www.naturalresources.house.gov/about/members.htm. Just click member for details.
  3. Call and email!
    1. It is all on this page: sample email, phone message, Talking Points, bill language, etc.
  4. Representatives need to be contacted in large volume, so repeat phone calls and emails are fine.
  5. Friends and family members can call and email, simply:
    1. Ask them to share the information;
    2. Provide them with the details needed, such as what to say on phone calls or what to send in emails.

What H.R.2603 does (Talking Points)

  1. Enhances conservation of endangered species by allowing for improved genetic diversity among captive populations previously isolated by arbitrary geographic lines;
  2. Decreases federal spending by millions of dollars through elimination of unnecessary regulation, petition responses, and litigation by profiteers;
  3. Removes duplicate regulations as CITES will continue to regulate international movement and protection of endangered species;
  4. Increases genetic strength of captive populations as private breeders, in addition to zoos, are successfully breeding ESA-listed species and this would allow for far greater success of breeding programs;
  5. Allows captive propagation to aid conservation by providing essential understanding of husbandry and biology of endangered species;
  6. Saves additional millions of federal dollars by preventing exploitive NGO’s from profiting by misusing ESA to continually litigate against the USFWS;
  7. Liberates precious USFWS resources by abolishing the pointless and costly Captive Bred Wildlife permit system, as well as the five-year review process, for nonnative species;
  8. Over 650 nonnative animal species are listed, nearly 1/3 of the species on ESA, with more petitions mounting annually, thus crippling FWS’ ability to focus upon and save native species;
  9. ESA has been successful for recovery of native species, not nonnative species;
  10. Eliminates unintended conflict between federal and state law where bans on possession of these species destroy both conservation and American freedoms in 26 states;
  11. Eradicates unintentional conflict between ESA and CITES;
  12. Prevents criminalization of responsible Americans and animal owners whose species of interest are frequently being unjustly listed under ESA due to political pressure from pseudo-environmental groups;
  13. Increases commerce and economic opportunity through deregulation of interstate movement;
  14. Allows FWS to continue regulating nonnative invasive species and in no way impairs their ability to do so.

Sample Messaging

Phone:

As your constituent and supporter, I ask that you consider co-sponsoring H.R.2603, known as the Saving America’s Endangered Species Act. I can gladly discuss or send additional information. Thank you and have a good day.

Email:

Sample subject lines (choose one or modify):

  1. Support HR2603 and Save Our Endangered Species!
  2. Support for HR2603!
  3. Please co-sponsor HR2603 and save our endangered species!
  4. Support HR2603 to refocus FWS resources!
  5. Support HR2603 to update ESA!
  6. Support HR2603 to save millions for FWS!

Sample email (copy/paste or edit):

Dear Representative [insert his/her last name],

As your constituent and supporter, I ask you to consider co-sponsoring and supporting H.R.2603, titled the Saving America’s Endangered Species Act. This bill is needed to modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA). By removing the duplicate and harmful listing of nonnative species under the ESA, this bill will:

  1. Enhance conservation;
  2. Terminate wasteful federal spending;
  3. Liberate USFWS resources;
  4. Remove redundant regulation;
  5. Cease the unjust criminalization of responsible American citizens;
  6. Stop misuse of ESA by profiteering and scandalous special interest groups;
  7. Halt unintended consequences.

Let’s bring conservation into the 21st Century by allowing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus on saving America’s endangered species. Please do so by sponsoring this bill and thus supporting the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to continue their efforts regulating global trade and movement of endangered and threatened species.

I hope to hear the good news of your backing of this bill so my support of your political affairs may continue. Thank you and have a good day.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

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