Political Quotes

“The Endangered Species Act was drafted with the best of intentions, but it has simply failed to live up to its noble mission. Since the ESA was passed in 1973, only 3 percent of species protected by the law have recovered to the point where they can be delisted. This is an abysmal recovery rate. Burdensome and outdated regulations like the Endangered Species Act negatively impact our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and foresters, create frivolous lawsuits, halt critical infrastructure projects, stifle economic growth, and do not help the species in question. It fails to do that. Just consider the northern long-eared bat. It is declining due to a disease with no cure, and the ESA will only further restrict our ability to help the species recover. It is an inflexible and outdated approach to species conservation. America's working lands play a vital role in protecting threatened and endangered species, Mr. Speaker. Voluntary, locally led conservation programs should be a model for the Federal Government rather than a top-down sledgehammer of red tape, or what I prefer to call, green tape. It is high past time to modernize the Endangered Species Act to better protect species and to treat property owners, farmers, ranchers, and States as partners rather than obstacles.…”