Ron Kind: “the Endangered Species Act remains an enduring testament to the importance the American people place on preserving plant…”

“the Endangered Species Act remains an enduring testament to the importance the American people place on preserving plant and animal species for future generations. That sentiment was reflected in President Richard Nixon's words during his signing of the Act on December 28, 1973 when he said, ``Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.'' I am also reminded of the wisdom of my recently passed friend and hero, Senator Gaylord Nelson, who said, ``We must recognize that we're all part of a web of life around the world. Anytime you extinguish a species, the consequences are serious.'' Thankfully today, citizens can see firsthand in every State the progress being made in bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction. For example, In Wisconsin, for the first time since its 1991 listing as an endangered species, the winged mapleleaf mussel, a species found only in a small area of the St. Croix River, have been found to be slowly rebuilding their numbers. Another success of the ESA is the Karner blue butterfly. Although 99 percent or more of the Karner blue butterfly's range has been destroyed, Wisconsin helped bring the species back using a conservation plan that takes into account the butterfly's entire life cycle.…”