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Press Release
JUNE 27, 2007
SUSAN DAVIS VOTES TO PROTECT POLAR BEARS
Loophole puts polar bears at risk to trophy hunting
WASHINGTON – With their very existence in question, Congresswoman Susan Davis fought for greater protections for polar bears by voting to close a legal loophole where they are at greater risk to trophy hunting.
“With global warming and encroachment from oil and gas exploration putting polar bears at risk, we should be doing more to guarantee their existence,” said Davis. “If Congress doesn’t act, these majestic animals could perish.”
Trophy hunting of polar bears is illegal in the U.S. However, a loophole to the Marine Mammal Protection Act allows trophy hunters to import polar bear body parts hunted in Canada.
An amendment to an environmental spending bill would have prohibited the import of polar bears or polar bear parts into the U.S. Davis supported the amendment, which failed in the House of Representatives on a vote of 188-242.
In addition to global warming and oil and gas exploration, which are threatening their habitat, chemical pollution is another risk faced by polar bears. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has suggested that polar bears be listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act.
The Senate is considering similar language to protect polar bears.