Trey Hollingsworth: “I recently had a townhall in a small county, Washington County, Indiana, where a farmer came up to me and explained to…”

“I recently had a townhall in a small county, Washington County, Indiana, where a farmer came up to me and explained to me the choice that he had before him: he could lose thousands of dollars of his cattle or pay thousands of dollars in fees because he is unable to kill the black vultures that continue to murder his calves during calving season. This amendment changes that process and enables him to take proactive nonlethal and lethal steps if the Secretary of the Interior deems it worthwhile in that region or that State to protect those young calves, to protect his property. I want to make sure that we enable and empower farmers to be able to keep their livestock alive, to be able to keep their property alive. This amendment simply allows the Secretary of the Interior to designate States or designate regions where farmers can take proactive nonlethal and lethal measures to protect their property from black vultures. It is important to note that black vultures are not protected under the Endangered Species Act. Right now they are listed in the least concern category. But they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. All this amendment does is enable them to take proactive measures rather than waiting until they have lost thousands of dollars' worth of calves in taking reactive measures. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”