On the recordJune 12, 2024
Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title XVII, insert the following new section: SEC. ___. EXCLUSIONS AND EXEMPTIONS FROM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973 FOR DEFENSE-RELATED OPERATIONS. (a) Exclusion of Military Institutions as Critical Habitat.--Section 4(a)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(B)) is amended to read as follows: ``(B)(i) The Secretary shall not designate as critical habitat-- ``(I) any military installation or a State-owned National Guard installation, or any portion thereof, as such terms are defined in section 100 of the Sikes Act; or ``(II) any other lands, waters, or geographical area that is otherwise designated for use by the Secretary of Defense including by any contractor of the Department of Defense, if the Secretary of Defense determines in writing and submitted to the Secretary of the Interior that such area is necessary for military training, weapons testing, or any other reason determined appropriate by such Secretary of Defense. ``(ii) The Secretary of Defense shall not be required to consult with the Secretary of the Interior, under section 7(a)(2) of this Act with respect to agency action, regardless of whether the area described in clause (i) is subject to an integrated natural resources management plan prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act.''.…





