Chellie Pingree: “Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history. More than 1 million species are currently…”

“Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history. More than 1 million species are currently threatened with extinction, many within decades. This amendment seeks to legislate species status rather than providing species with the protections they are afforded under the Endangered Species Act, our principle conservation law, and would potentially increase litigation regarding the government's responsibility to implement the statutory requirements of the Endangered Species Act. Once again, my Republican colleagues are disregarding the law. We can have a legitimate debate on how to best manage our border and how to handle these issues, but that belongs in the Homeland Security bill and not here under this and not talking about the Endangered Species Act. The best available scientific and commercial information--not politics--should determine whether a species is listed as threatened or endangered. This amendment circumvents the rigorous process that is in place to make these determinations, as well as the role of public input. Historical range for these species was throughout the mainstem Rio Grande and select major tributaries in Texas and Mexico but today have been reduced to a single population that occupies only a fraction of this area. Human activities that threaten and diminish animal habitats, pollute nature, and accelerate global warming are driving species extinction and creating unhealthy ecosystems.…”