18
Nov
Press Release: Conservation Groups Call for Veto of Extinction Riders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2015
Media Contact:
Animal Welfare Institute: Amey Owen, 202-446-2128, amey@awionline.org
Born Free USA: Rodi Rosensweig, 203-270-8929, TheRodiCompany@gmail.com
Center for Biological Diversity: Brett Hartl, bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org; 202-817-8121
Defenders of Wildlife: Haley McKey, 202-772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org
Earthjustice: Maggie Caldwell, Earthjustice, 415-217-2084, mcaldwell@earthjustice.org
Endangered Species Coalition: Tara Thornton, 207-504-2705, tthornton@endangered.org
League of Conservation Voters: Seth Stein, 202-454-4573, Seth_stein@lcv.org
Natural Resources Defense Council: Kimiko Martinez, 310-434-2344, kmartinez@nrdc.org
WASHINGTON —More than 150 conservation groups have signed a letter to President Obama asking him to oppose all policy “riders” that would undermine the Endangered Species Act during negotiations on final funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2016.
Congressional attacks on the Endangered Species Act and other critical environmental protections have increased with alarming frequency in recent years, and both the Senate and the House of Representatives included a record number of riders that weaken the Endangered Species Act in appropriations bills to fund the Department of the Interior for Fiscal Year 2016. These riders would remove vital protections for species at risk of extinction, prevent future protection for imperiled species, and otherwise dramatically undermine the Endangered Species Act.
This letter follows two recent letters from both the House and the Senate in which 92 members of the House and 25 senators, respectively, urged the president to steadfastly reject all riders that undermine the Endangered Species Act in Fiscal Year 2016 spending legislation.
From the conservation groups’ letter released today:
“The conservation challenges America faces today are far greater and more complex than they were when the Endangered Species Act was enacted over four decades ago. We face the reality of climate change and other enormous threats to our planet’s biodiversity—which in turn threaten our own survival as a species. Scientists predict that as many as 30 to 50 percent of all species could be heading toward extinction by mid-century.[1] Clearly, now is not the time to weaken the best tool our nation has to combat the planet’s sixth great wave of extinction.”
“As your Administration works with Congress to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill, we urge you to flatly reject all riders that undermine the Endangered Species Act in any way, including weakening or preventing protection for specific species. These harmful measures have no place in the appropriations context and only serve to chip away at one of America’s most popular and effective environmental laws. We look forward to working with your Administration to uphold the Endangered Species Act, continuing the legacy of conservation for which this great country is known.”
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Your help is needed now to stop anti-wolf, anti-ESA legislation from moving forward.
Please contact your members of Congress and President Obama and tell them decisions about the future of endangered species should be based on science, not politics.
Bills or riders aimed at stripping endangered wolves of federal protections put more than wolves in peril – they threaten all wildlife and the Endangered Species Act itself. Wolves are being used as pawns in a larger effort to sink the ark that provides for the conservation of all animals.
Please contact members of Congress and the President today and urge them to oppose any anti-wolf legislation.
You will be most effective if you call personally or send an email in your own words. Whether you call or write, please be polite so that your message will be heard. Remember, you will most likely connect with a staffer who will pass your message along.
Sample message for phone calls or emails:
Start by identifying yourself and where you’re calling from.
I am calling to urge [the Senator, the Congressman, the President] to oppose any legislation or riders that will weaken the Endangered Species Act or reduce protections for wolves. These decisions should be made through science, not politics. Appropriations bills and other must-pass legislation should be kept clean of anti-wolf and other controversial riders. Thank you.
Phone numbers:
- Congress members’ contact information can be found at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members.
- White House Phone: (202) 456-1111
- White House Email: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Thank you for acting for wolves today!
