WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Dan Newhouse, R — Washington, has joined efforts with nine other federal legislators to form a workgroup to examine the Endangered Species Act and suggest updates to policy to better protect endangered wildlife, according to a press release from his office.
"It is clear the ESA is in desperate need of reform, not only for the sake of our species, but for the men and women of Central Washington who are negatively impacted by its land use restrictions, impact on property values, and costly permitting requirements. I am proud to launch this working group with House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman to work towards providing tangible, actionable solutions to the ESA for the betterment of the American people and species recovery," Newhouse said in the release.
In June, the Biden Administration announced that President Joe Biden was working to reinstate protections set forth in the ESA that had been curtailed by former President Donald Trump. This includes restoring blanket protections for species newly classified as threatened under the terms of the law, which Trump had removed in 2019.
Grant and Adams counties are home to multiple endangered or threatened species, including Pygmy Rabbits and a species of ground squirrel.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Act has saved a reported 99% of endangered species that have made it onto the list since it was established in the 1970s. However, because 5% or less have not made it off of the list, Newhouse and other members of the workgroup say that the law is in need of updating.
"The Endangered Species Act is a well-intentioned but entirely outdated piece of legislation which must be brought into the 21st Century. With hundreds of species being listed under the Endangered Species list but with a dismal 3% having been delisted, clearly something is not working. It's time to take action," said House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, who is also a member of the group.
Additional workgroup members include Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, Paul Gosar, R-Arizona, Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, John Duarte, R-California, Judge Carter, R-Texas, Jerry Carl, R-Alabama, and Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado.
