The fate of our most valued wildlife and endangered species, including the bald eagle, Florida manatee, and grizzly bear is now in the hands of the U.S. Senate. As Congress returns to session in the coming weeks, big developers and other powerful interests are working with their allies in the U.S. Senate to weaken and dismantle one of our most successful and effective environmental laws -- the Endangered Species Act.

Over its 32-year history, the Endangered Species Act has become one of the most effective and powerful pieces of environmental legislation ever enacted. It is also one of the most successful. Since becoming law in 1973, the Act has been responsible for preventing the extinction of several of our country's most valued and symbolic wildlife species, including the bald eagle, Florida manatee, grizzly bear, gray wolf, and many other species. Overall, the Act has a nearly perfect record of saving endangered species from extinction, only 9 of the more than 1800 plants and animals protected have been declared extinct.

As 2006 begins the fate of the Endangered Species Act and our ability to protect threatened and endangered species from extinction hangs in a delicate balance as developers and other powerful interests along with their allies in Congress have mounted the most aggressive campaign in recent years to weaken and dismantle the Act.

Last fall, the Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) successfully passed legislation through the House that will fundamentally alter and weaken the Endangered Species Act. The controversial Pombo legislation, ironically entitled the "Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005" (HR 3824), eliminates protections across the board for threatened and endangered species while creating several new loopholes and corporate giveaways. Simply put, the Pombo legislation is perhaps the most damaging legislation to pass the House since the original Act was passed in 1973, placing hundreds of species at risk of losing the protections that have saved them from extinction.

In addition, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) also introduced legislation last December entitled the "Collaboration for Recovery of Endangered Species Act (S 2110)." While not as extreme as the Pombo legislation, it will also significantly alter and weaken the Act. As a result, the Congressional efforts to tear down the Endangered Species Act will continue throughout 2006, and most significant debate of the past decade over the future of Act is likely to take place in the Senate.

Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)
Collaboration for Recovery of Endangered Species Act

Last September[2005], the House of Representatives passed Representative Richard Pombo's "Wildlife Extinction" bill -- a controversial bill that eliminates protections across the board for endangered species while creating new loopholes and giveaways to big developers. Now, several members of the Senate are working to pass another bill that will weaken the Endangered Species Act.

I am seriously concerned about these efforts and possible impacts on the Endangered Species Act. I urge you to protect our endangered wildlife and oppose any efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act.