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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today released the following statement after voting to protect the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Hinchey voted against a Republican-sponsored measure that seeks to significantly weaken the ESA.
"I proudly voted to protect the Endangered Species Act from coming under assault today by the Republican-leadership in the House. The Republican-sponsored measure goes against the very mission of the Endangered Species Act -- to bring wildlife and plants back from the brink of extinction and restore them to healthy population levels. The measure is shortsighted and irresponsible on several levels, and I can only hope that the Senate stops it dead in its tracks.
"Among many other regressive things, the Republican-sponsored measure would gut the Endangered Species Act's requirement to designate "critical habitat" needed for a species to rebuild its population while failing to provide other means to reach the goal of recovery. It also authorizes the Secretary of Interior to issue an analysis of the economic impacts associated with a decision to list an endangered species, which would mean that for the first time in the history of the Endangered Species Act, factors other than science will figure in listing decisions.
"Additionally, the bill is fiscally reckless by including a new entitlement compensation program, which would allow developers and speculators to reach deeply into taxpayers’ pockets in exchange for complying with the Endangered Species Act. It's bad enough that the bill guts the Endangered Species Act protection and enforcement, but to then create a new government giveaway to benefit
some of the nation's richest landowners is adding insult to injury.
"I voted for an alternative measure that among other things would have ensured timely species recovery, strengthen the science behind the Endangered Species Act, coordinate federal efforts with state efforts more effectively, help small landowners conserve fish and wildlife, and focus conservation efforts on public lands before private lands. We in Congress must recognize that the consequences of our actions with regard to protecting endangered species, or in the case of the vast majority of House Republicans; lifting protections for endangered species, may not be felt for decades or centuries. We must recognize that species survival is larger than ourselves and we must be look past short-term financial gain and realize the importance of protecting the Endangered Species Act."
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