Political Quotes

“An emergency listing is a temporary measure, providing the Act's protection for only 240 days. It is only used in extreme situations of dire imminent threat to a species' continued existence. Mr. President, there is going to be a flood of lawsuits if this amendment of my friend from Texas is not tabled. The listing moratorium must be lifted. The motion to table that I will make should be granted, and the listing moratorium must be lifted. First, over 500 species are dangerously close to extinction along with their life-sustaining ecosystems. Second, the moratorium on the listing process is a display of lack of faith in the legislative process. Really, it is arrogance, because everyone knows that as long as this moratorium is in effect, there will be no endangered species reauthorization. It removes the incentive for opponents of the Endangered Species Act to reauthorize the act. Third, it is argued that a time out is what was needed to get reform measures in place and better science procedures in the listing process. I have two responses. The first is that there is no time out for the species who may face habitat degradation and extinction. Finally, the science is irrelevant if a species has become extinct.”