According to data recently obtained from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in response to document requests, the federal government has defended more than 570 Endangered Species Act (ESA)-related lawsuits costing U.S. taxpayers more than $15 million in attorney fees – in just the past four years. This data provides further evidence that the ESA has become litigation driven, where money and… Read more »
Reporting H.R. 3210 Out of Committee (Passed 25-19. View Roll Call Vote)
This bill would strengthen the Lacey Act by addressing certain unintended consequences of the 2008 Amendments
Fleming Amendment #001 – Increases Transparency on Lacey Act Provisions (Agreed to by Voice Vote.)
This amendment would establish an effective date; create a database on foreign laws; stipulate that the… Read more »
The House of Representatives last night passed, in a bipartisan vote of 230-186, National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop’s (UT-01) Border Patrol Operations Enhancement Amendment to the FY 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The amendment eliminates mitigation payments from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for purported “environmental… Read more »
Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) sent a series of letters to the Obama Administration requesting further information on how much the federal government spends on Endangered Species Act (ESA)-related litigation and settlement costs.
The ESA has become increasingly driven by litigation and is used by special interest groups as a way to bring hundreds… Read more »
Dear Secretary Salazar and Director Ashe:
The Committee on Natural Resources (“Committee”) has jurisdiction over matters involving fisheries and wildlife, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1599. The goal of the ESA was to preserve, protect and recover key domestic species. However, today the law is failing to achieve its primary purpose of species… Read more »
HASTINGS: Time to improve the Endangered Species Act
By House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings
Washington Times
May 18, 2012
When the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law in 1973 by President Nixon, he spoke about the importance of preserving “the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” I believe that goal is as important… Read more »
Reporting H.R. 4043 Out of Committee (Passed 24-13. View Roll Call Vote)
This bill would create Southern Sea Otter Military Readiness Areas in three specific areas off the southern California coast. Sea otter range expansion would go forward as determined by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). However, military activities in these three military readiness areas would not be in… Read more »
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Representative Bill Flores (TX-17) released the following statements after the House passed, in a bipartisan vote of 246 to 174, an amendment offered by Rep. Flores to the FY 2013 Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to halt funding for the implementation of Executive… Read more »
