ESA Working Group

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 9:30 AM ET • Capitol Visitors Center, Studio B, Washington, D.C.

Press Conference on:

• “Endangered Species Act Working Group's Final Report and Recommendations”

Watch the Video Webcast:

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group, led by Representatives Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large), held a press conference on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 to unveil its final Report, Findings and Recommendations.

The report is the culmination of the Working Group’s eight-month effort to examine the ESA from a variety of viewpoints and angles, receive input on how the ESA is working and being implemented, and how and whether it could be updated to be more effective for both people and species. The report reflects hundreds of comments from outside individuals and testimony from nearly 70 witnesses who appeared before a Working Group forum and House Natural Resources Committee hearings.

The report concludes that “After more than 40 years, sensible, targeted reforms would not only improve the eroding credibility of the Act, but would ensure it is implemented more effectively for species and people.”

Thursday, October 10, 2013 11:30 AM ET • 1300 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

Listening Forum on:

• “Reviewing 40 Years of the Endangered Species Act and Seeking Improvement for People and Species”

Archived Video Webcast:

Opening Statements:

• Chairman Doc Hastings

Witnesses and Testimony:

• Capt. William Beacom, Nav-Com Services, Sioux City, Iowa
• Ms. Carlee Brown, ESA Policy Manager, Western Governors Association, Denver, Colorado
• The Hon. Tom Casperson, State Senator, Michigan State Senate, Lansing, Michigan
• Mr. Myron Ebell, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC
• Mr. Robert Gordon, Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC
• Ms. Maria Gutierrez, El Agua es Asunto de Todos, Fresno, California
• Mr. Issa Hamud, Director, City Environmental Department, Logan, Utah
• Mr. Matt Hite, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC
• Mr. Joe Hopkins, President, Forest Landowners Association, Folkston, Georgia
• Mr. John Horning, WildEarth Guardians, Santa Fe, New Mexico (Invited)
• Mr. J. Roger Kelley, Continental Resources, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Mr. Kevin Kolevar, Dow Chemical; on behalf of the Conservation Leadership Council, Washington, DC
• Mr. Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance, Klamath Falls, Oregon
• Mr. Roger Marzulla, Marzulla Law LLC, Washington, DC
• Mr. Ross Melinchuk, Deputy Director, Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep’t., Austin, Texas
• Ms. Christy Plumer, The Nature Conservancy, Washington, DC
• Ms. Jamie Rappaport Clark, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC (Invited)
• Dr. Greg Schildwachter, on behalf of the Boone & Crockett Club, Washington, DC
• Mr. Kiering Suckling, Center for Biological Diversity, Tucson, Arizona (Invited)
• Mr. Doug Vincent-Lang, Director - Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• Mr. Mike Wood, Business Rep., Local 3074, Carpenters Industrial Council, Chester, California

Background:

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group, led by Representatives Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large), held a forum on Thursday, October 10, 2013 entitled “Reviewing 40 Years of the Endangered Species Act and Seeking Improvement for People and Species.” The forum featured a diverse group of invited stakeholders who will testify on all angles of the ESA, its impacts on species and people over the last 40 years, and potential improvements going forward. Members of the Working Group used the forum as an opportunity to examine how to measure ESA progress; how to define success; if the ESA is working to achieve its goals; the impacts of litigation; the role of state and local governments in recovering species; the need for public engagement and input; and more.

The Endangered Species Act Working Group is comprised of Members of Congress from all across the country whose goal is to invite discussion and input on ways in which the ESA (last reauthorized in 1988) may be working well, how it could be updated, and how to boost its effectiveness for both people and species. Visit http://esaworkinggroup.hastings.house.gov for more information.