Blue Whale Fluke. Photo Credit: Joe Morris 917 Shutterstock
Blue Whale Fluke. Photo Credit: Joe Morris 917 Shutterstock

Stop Congress from Gutting Protection for Endangered Species

Topics: Cetacean Habitat, Dolphins, Science, Trump Administration, Whales, Endangered Species Act

By Mark J. Palmer

Urge Your House Representative to Reject HR 1897

Pending a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives is terrible legislation that must be defeated. HR 1897 is a rewrite of the Endangered Species Act to reduce protections for species that are on the brink of extinction in order to promote destructive activities.

Here are a few of the provisions of this noxious legislation:

  • Instead of promoting scientific evidence, the act would allow political decisions to overturn and weaken decisions on conservation and protection for endangered wildlife.
  • Restricts designations of Critical Habitat for endangered species, further undermining protections.
  • Shifts some responsibilities to the states, which may lack the funds and the desire to manage fragile species
  • Restricts lawsuits against decisions harming endangered species.
  • Slows the listing process for wildlife, but speeds up the process to delist a species, as well as injecting political decisions into the process.
  • Threatened species, a category of species that might become extinct, will no longer get protection unless specifically determined by the Secretary of the Interior, who is appointed by the President.

This terrible legislation could come up on the floor of the House of Representatives any day now, so please take action now!

What You Can Do:

Contact your Representative in Congress.

Here’s how to find the Representative who represents you.

Each House (and Senate) member has a website where there is either a direct communication link to the office, an email address, or a phone number.

Write or call your members of Congress and urge them to strongly oppose HR 1897. Endangered species need priority protection, or we will lose them forever. Cite your own feelings for the importance of our wildlife heritage.

Also, urge your Representative to protect the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act from being weakened.

Thank you for your help!

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Can you help whales and dolphins with a donation today? The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute is dedicated to protecting whales and dolphins around the world, working to prevent entanglements in plastic fishing gear, opposing captivity for cetaceans, and protesting the killing of whales and dolphins around the world. Whales and dolphins need your support. Thank you!