July 18, 2018
NASHVILLE, Tenn (RFD-TV) House and Senate lawmakers look to modernize the Endangered Species Act, a law that’s plagued western agriculture – and hasn’t been updated in 30 years.
Western lawmakers say the Endangered Species Act is broken. Wyoming’s Senator Barasso, who leads the Senate Reform Effort, says states spend over $5.6 billion on conservation programs, and employ over 200,000 staff and volunteers, making them much more capable than federal authorities who have a fraction of the resources.
Democrats in both the House and Senate voiced concerns about proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. This includes measures that would change the way the Fish and Wildlife Service evaluates science and reduces the ability of the public to challenge delisting decisions. One democrat has signed on to the House Modernization proposal.