URGENT CALL TO ACTION TO OPPOSE ANTI-WILDLIFE BILLS AND RIDERS

There is so much at stake and we stand to lose so much. I’ll start with S.1460 which is the official title of the bill number has two or three wolf delisting riders in it, plus a rider that will open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. You can imagine the enormous impact this will have if they turn part of it into oil fields. Think of all the animals such as arctic wolves, arctic fox, polar bears and much more!  Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the crown jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is also one of the last intact landscapes in America. It is home to 37 species of land mammals, eight marine mammals, 42 fish species and more than 200 migratory bird species.

 S.1460  also has a rider that will open up national parks to trophy hunting! The tax bill will be brought to the floor of the Senate Thursday to begin debate and a vote is expected on Friday. So we have two days to save our wolves and our national parks. Please call on Chuck Schumer, Senators in leadership positions and Democratic Senators (List is provided with contact info at bottom of pg)

Tell them we are counting on them to OPPOSE ALL TOXIC LEGISLATION that delists wolves, undermines the ESA, opens up more public lands for gas and oil exploration (including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) drilling mining, logging and allows trophy hunting in National Parks right now before it is too late!!

The Department of Interior 2018 Funding Bill is very dangerous for wildlife, wildlands, our environment and much more. Both the US Senate version and HR 3354, DOI Appropriations bill, contain toxic sections that need to be removed. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3354

Here are just the ones that attack our wildlife: A rider in the House Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec 113) prevents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from fulfilling its obligations under the Endangered Species Act by disallowing FWS to issue or propose a rule to protect the greater sage grouse. A similar provision was included in the Senate Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec. 114).

A rider in the House Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec. 116) blocks federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Great Lakes and Wyoming and prevents judicial review of this action. In doing so, this rider not only ignores the Endangered Species Act’s science-based decision-making process, but also undermines the rule of law and citizens’ access to the courts more broadly. A similar provision was included in the Senate Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec. 120).

A rider in the House Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec. 117) blocks efforts to protect endangered gray wolves in the continental United States under the Endangered Species Act. This species is currently listed as endangered in most of the lower 48 states. A national delisting for wolves would reverse the remarkable progress the ESA has achieved for this species and once again put the gray wolf at risk of extinction.

A rider added to the House Interior and Environment Appropriation by Rep Young (H. Amdt 351) blocks rules to regulate non-subsistence hunting in Alaska’s national preserves. The rider allows extremely aggressive, inhumane and scientifically unfounded forms of predator control such as spotlighting denning bears and cubs as they hibernate.

A rider added to the House Interior and Environment appropriation (H. Amdt. 364) offered by Rep. Lamborn (R-CO) prohibits funds from being used to implement or enforce the threatened species or endangered species listing of any plant or wildlife that has not undergone a review of Endangered Species Act of 1973.

A rider added to the House Interior and Environment Appropriation (H. Amdt. 365) by Rep. Lamborn blocks federal funding for the threatened Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse under the Endangered Species Act, thwarting recovery efforts for this western species, which continues to experience habitat loss and other threats throughout its range. It would eliminate crucial recovery programs for the mouse, such as Habitat Conservation Plans, that require the participation of private and public land managers as well as federal funding.

A rider in the Senate Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec. 431) would overturn a court decision that requires federal land managers to reconsult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on land management plans when a new species is listed, critical habitat is designated, or other new pertinent information on a listed species becomes available. This will result in logging and resource development decisions being made without up-to-date science and species status, which could further imperil threatened or endangered species.

A rider in the Senate Interior and Environment appropriation (Sec. 121) would prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from fulfilling its obligations under the Endangered Species Act. The provision blocks the agency from conducting any activities related to determining if the lesser prairie chicken may be a threatened species, setting a dangerous precedent by circumventing the scientific and legal process established to protect imperiled species.

A rider in the Senate Interior Appropriations Report committee report (Committee Report Pg. 17) encourages the Fish and Wildlife Service to end the Red Wolf recovery program and to declare the Red Wolf extinct. In expressing views about the status of the Red Wolf, this rider undermines the scientific and legal process established to protect and recover imperiled species.

So you ask— What can I do?  You have a say in all of this. Somethings are priceless such as our wolves, wildlife, our lands and more! Don’t be shy. We can start out by calling/emailing Chuck Schumer. Since there is a lot to list when you call and you can make it simple and brief by asking him to block any rider that delist the wolves or harmful to any wildlife  as well as our wild horses. Also block any repeal of our EPA regulations . Block any rider harmful to our National Parks and the Antiquities Act. Block any rider that is a big give away of our taxpayer funded public land to the logging , mining and oil industry.

Please call on Democratic Senators and Senators in leadership positions:

Appropriations Vice Chairperson
Patrick Leahy, – (D – VT)
(202) 224-4242
Contact: www.leahy.senate.gov/contact/

Democratic minority Leader:
Charles Schumer, – (D – NY)
(202) 224-6542
Contact: www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck

Democratic Whip and Appropriations Committee member
Richard Durbin, – (D – IL)
(202) 224-2152
Contact: www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/

Republican Senator Susan Collins, Appropriations Committee member. – (R – ME)
(202) 224-2523
Contact: www.collins.senate.gov/

Let’s have a say! Thank you ~ L.G ~ PTW volunteer