The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association (MSCA) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) are pleased with the passage of H.R. 6784, the Manage our Wolves Act. The Act requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the gray wolf from federal protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Similar action was initially proposed by the FWS under the Obama Administration in 2011 and 2012. Prior to today’s (11/16/1) vote, MSCA, NCBA and 37 additional livestock and agriculture organizations sent a letter of support for the bill to House leadership.
“We are pleased to see the House of Representatives take this important step to make the Endangered Species Act work the way it was intended.” MSCA President Krist Wollum
In addition to requiring the FWS to reissue the Obama-era rules, H.R. 6784 would require further rule-making to remove ESA protections for gray wolves across the contiguous United States. Current and emerging science continues to find that wolf populations have been fully recovered nationwide.
“We are also encouraged that this was a bipartisan effort to remedy a critical issue impacting livestock producers across the country was successful in the House of Representatives,” Wollum said. “We are optimistic the Senate will take quick action on this bill and stand ready to help ensure final passage.”
Cattlemen are grateful to see a vote on this legislation and have continually stressed that if the ESA process was working as originally intended, species-specific legislation like H.R. 6784 would not be necessary.
"The bill itself speaks to the need to modernize the Endangered Species Act.” said Wollum.
Background:
H.R.
6784 passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis.
In
2011 and 2012 respectively, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under
President Obama issued final rules to remove gray wolves in the Western
Great Lakes (76 FR 81666) and Wyoming (77 FR 55530) from federal
protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This decision
was informed by the best scientific and commercial data available, but
activist litigants used the judicial system to circumvent sound science
and restore full ESA protections to these predators. While listed
under the ESA, wolves cannot be properly managed by state wildlife
agencies, who best know how to balance healthy ecosystems with the
needs of local communities and changing conditions on the ground.
Posted: November 16, 2018