ESA Modernization Bills

Endangered Species Act Modernization Bills

The Saving America’s Vulnerable Endangered Species Act, or SAVES Act, has been re-introduced this session in both the Senate and House. S771 and HR1558 would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prohibit the listing of living nonnative species as threatened or endangered species. S771 was introduced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz (Texas). HR1558 was introduced by Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran (Texas). You may read the details and text of S771 at https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/771 and HR1558 at https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1558.

Another bill with a similar goal is the American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act which was introduced by Representative Andy Biggs (Arizona) as HR94. This bill amends the Endangered Species Act to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered or threatened species. You may read the details and text of HR94 at https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/94.

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 Enacted in 1973, ESA is now outdated and extremely flawed.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 over 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 21^st 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.

You may read the history of these bills for the previous three sessions of Congress at https://usark.org/action-alert-h-r-2603/.

What to do

At this time, we need more federal and legislators need to hear your support for these bills.

1. Find contact information for your Representative at www.house.gov/representatives/find/.
2. Find and contact your two (2) U.S. Senators: 
   1. Go to this link: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
   2. Choose your State.
   3. Click “Contact” under a Senator’s name.
   4. Fill out the contact form. (You may need to click a second link such as SHARE, CONTACT, or EMAIL.)
   5. Repeat for your second Senator.
   6. You can find phone, fax, and mailing address details for Senators on their websites (after clicking “Contact”).
3. Call and email!
   1. It is all on this page: sample email, phone message, Talking Points, bill language, etc.
4. 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.

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 NGOs 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 support the ESA reform bills S771, HR1558, and HR94. 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 S771, HR1558, and HR94 to Save Our Endangered Species!
2. Support for S771, HR1558, and HR94!
3. Please co-sponsor S771, HR1558, and HR94 to save our endangered species!
4. Support S771, HR1558, and HR94 to refocus FWS resources!
5. Support S771, HR1558, and HR94 to update ESA!

Sample email (copy/paste or edit):

As your constituent and supporter, I ask you to consider co-sponsoring and supporting S771, HR1558, and HR94 to modernize our Endangered Species Act (ESA). This change is needed to modernize ESA. By removing the duplicate and harmful listing of nonnative species under the ESA, this reform will:

1. Enhance conservation;
2. Terminate wasteful federal spending;
3. Liberate USFWS resources;
4. Remove redundant regulations;
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 21^st 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 its 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