Those monarch butterflies that wing their way through Oklahoma every spring and fall are poised to be considered as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. But the act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service angered some members of the Congressional Western Caucus.
Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse of Washington, Senate Western Caucus chair Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas blasted the move.
“This announcement by the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the monarch butterfly as threatened highlights the need for comprehensive reform to the Endangered Species Act,” said Chairman Newhouse.
“For far too long, the ESA has been used to stifle development while encroaching on the rights of private landowners. The Western Caucus will continue to prioritize reforms to the ESA, including the ESA Amendments Act, to make the law work better for species, landowners and rural communities alike.”
“The Endangered Species Act is in dire need of reform, and this listing by the Fish and Wildlife Service only further drives home this point,” said Chair Lummis. “As Republicans prepare to control the Senate, House, and White House next year, I look forward to prioritizing legislative and administrative reforms that will protect species without hindering economic development.”
“Over the course of its 50-year run, the ESA has failed to achieve its basic goals of species recovery,” said Chairman Westerman. “The proposed listing of the monarch butterfly is more evidence of the desperate need for ESA reform. We must prioritize solutions that empower states and local landowners while maintaining healthy ecosystems across the country. That’s why earlier this year I introduced the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, and the ESA Amendments Act to reform this outdated legislation and ensure the long-term health of America’s abundant wildlife.”