Congressman Stauber, Ranking Member Westerman Lead Legislation Updating, Modernizing the Endangered Species Act

Statement

Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) and House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) introduced the ESA Flexibility Act. This legislation will grant landowners leeway and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) flexibility when dealing with endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including the northern long-eared bat.

"I'm pleased to introduce the ESA Flexibility Act today, which creates latitude for species listed as threatened or endangered," said Congressman Stauber. "If we're to build infrastructure, permit electricity transmission, mine for resources needed for everyday life, and properly manage our forests, we need commonsense habitat conservation plans that protect wildlife without harming our economy. For example, the northern long-eared bat suffers from a disease through no fault of humans whatsoever. If uplisted due to this disease, the bat's entire range, which covers most of the continental United States, would be off limits to desperately needed development. The ESA as it's written has failed biodiversity and is instead abused by the wealthy green lobby as a cash fund for lawyers. Although my commonsense bill is a small step forward, I hope we build on this reform to make the ESA work for people and animals once again."

"Protecting America's wildlife sometimes demands swift, decisive intervention to ensure declining species populations don't disappear forever," Ranking Member Westerman said. "However, responsible landowners shouldn't become casualties of that intervention. In the case of the northern long-eared bat, these animals are tragically susceptible to white-nose syndrome and need careful attention, but foresters, farmers, and other land managers play no role in this species decline. Congressman Stauber's ESA Flexibility Act provides USFWS the ability to tailor ESA restrictions for the species, which will protect wildlife without punishing landowners in the process. I'm proud to join him in this effort, one that has broad support from groups across the country, and look forward to seeing it signed into law."

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