Grijalva Statement on Biden Administration Action to Finalize Endangered Species Act Rules
WASHINGTON – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on three finalized rules from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to improve critical protections for imperiled species and their habitats under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“I applaud the Biden administration for closing the book on the most egregious pro-polluter, Trump-era regulations that undermined the Endangered Species Act and took us backward in our fight against the compounding biodiversity and climate crises. The science has been crystal clear about the need for a stronger, more effective ESA, which is why my colleagues and I have been calling for these changes for years. These new rules will be instrumental in our efforts to recover and protect species, prevent extinction, and build our resilience to climate change.
“However, while I appreciate the Biden administration’s efforts to incorporate the many public comments that strengthened and clarified the proposed rules, I had hoped they would have done more to reverse all of the Trump-era provisions. I will continue to push the administration to fully strengthen its implementation of the ESA to protect the future of our wildlife and planet.”
Background
In August 2019, the Trump administration finalized three rule changes to the ESA that significantly undermined the law and put thousands of species at risk for extinction. Shortly after, Ranking Member Grijalva introduced the PAW and FIN Conservation Act in September 2019 to repeal all three of the Trump administration’s rule changes.
Throughout the Biden administration, Ranking Member Grijalva sent several letters to the FWS and NMFS in May 2021, April 2022, and September 2022 urging the swift repeal of the Trump-era regulations in order to restore the integrity of the ESA and better protect threatened and endangered species.
Following the release of the Biden administration’s proposed rules, Ranking Member Grijalva led a 50-member letter in August 2023 making several recommendations to strengthen the draft regulations.
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