Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso introduced a discussion draft of the Endangered Species Act that elevates the role of states, increases transparency and prioritizes resources.

“When it comes to the Endangered Species Act, the status quo is not good enough,” said Barrasso, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. “We must do more than just keep listed species on life support - we need to see them recovered. This draft legislation will increase state and local input and improve transparency in the listing process. It will promote the recovery of species and allow local economies to flourish. I have worked closely with the bipartisan Western Governors’ Association to draft a bill that works for endangered species and people alike.”

The Western Governors’ Association includes provisions inspired by the association’s Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative.

“The Western Governors’ Association appreciates the chairman’s willingness to productively engage with governors, and that the chairman has approached this polarizing topic in an inclusive, thoughtful manner,” the WGA wrote. “The proposed bill reflects this fact and offers meaningful, bipartisan solutions to challenging species conservation issues.”

The WGA represents the governors of the 19 western state and three U.S. territories in the Pacific.

What is the Endangered Species Act?

Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 to protect imperiled species and the habitats on which they rely.

What does Barrasso’s draft do?

The discussion draft legislation will:

What are others saying about the legislation?

“The ESA, despite the good intentions it was built on, has failed in recovering endangered wildlife,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Instead, it has threatened our ability to make productive use of the land. Perhaps the only ‘species’ that have benefited from the ESA have been lawyers and special interest groups. These measures will restore common sense to a regulatory regime that has gone unchecked and grown out of control. ESA reform is long overdue.”

More than 60 organizations, association, corporations and government entities sent letters in favor of Barrasso’s efforts, but environmental and conservation organizations condemn the bill as “anti-science.” – Powell Tribune

“The Endangered Species Act is saving countless iconic American species from the threat of extinction because it is grounded in science,” said Michael Halpern, deputy director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Sen. Barrasso’s proposal puts these protections at risk by sabotaging the scientific foundation of the Endangered Species Act and putting onerous bureaucratic hurdles in the way of efforts to protect imperiled plants and animals. This is purely a political maneuver that would make the law far less effective and could give state politicians a virtual veto over science-based conservation efforts.”

Is a hearing scheduled on the bill?

Yes, a hearing is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. July 17 in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead will testify before the committee. – Billings Gazette