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House Votes to Gut the Endangered Species Act
For Immediate Release - September 29, 2005

Jim McDermott released the following statement after the House Passage of H.R. 3824 the "Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005"                Read the bill

“As of today, we must add the Endangered Species Act to the list of Endangered Species.

“The Republicans in power today voted to gut one of the most important environmental protection laws ever passed in this nation. Over 30 years ago, Republicans and Democrats spoke with one voice when the Endangered Species Act was overwhelmingly passed by votes of 392-12 in the House of Representatives and 92-0 in the United States Senate.

“America stood united, once.

“America cared about the environment, once.

“But today, Republicans turned their backs on their own Party, the Environment and the American people by forcing HR 3824 through the House. They have just voted to gut critical habitat protections, turn science into fiction, and create an entitlement program that will annually cost millions if not billions of dollars in taxpayer money to reimburse landowners for abiding by the law.

“In the Pacific Northwest, passage of HR 3824 irresponsibly endangers already endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon, economic benefits to the region, and thousands of jobs in communities large and small. HR 3824 also imperils $5 billion a year for community economies and thousands of new jobs that a fully restored salmon fishery would mean for the region.

“HR 3824 will spawn only one outcome: Salmon lose, people lose, the environment loses and the Pacific Northwest loses, because Republicans put selfish interests ahead of America’s interests.”