Last week, Congressman Andy Biggs reintroduced H.R. 3973, or the LIST Act of 2021. The LIST Act would be an amendment to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the Endangered Species Act “aims to provide a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats.” The original legislation was one of the first laws created to try to protect vulnerable species from becoming extinct.
Under the ESA, “a species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. “Endangered” means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. “Threatened” means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. All species of plants and animals, except pest insects, are eligible for listing as endangered or threatened. For the purposes of the ESA, Congress defined species to include subspecies, varieties, and, for vertebrates, distinct population segments.”
According to the press release, the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to de-list species from the endangered species list when there is an objective, measurable, and scientific study demonstrating a species has recovered. It also penalizes those who intentionally submit false or fraudulent data in order to cause a species listing. The original bill was H.R. 5579. It stalled out in early January 2021. Rep. Paul Gosar is a cosponsor.
Cosponsors of the LIST Act:@RepScottPerry @RepRosendale @RepChrisStewart @RepMcClintock @RepMann @RepBoebert @RepGosar @RepNewhouse @RepLizCheney https://t.co/msoYlVp9cd
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) June 18, 2021
Biggs stated, “The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was created to protect and restore species and their habitats, however, special interests and onerous delisting regulations have harmed western priorities and worsened the health of ecosystems along the way. Over the last four decades, ESA regulations have done more to infringe on private property and states’ rights than they have protecting and recovering endangered species. My bill does not eliminate protections for truly endangered species. Rather, it allows the federal government to focus resources on species actually in danger of extinction.”
Biggs posted on Twitter, “I reintroduced the LIST Act, which authorizes the Sec of the Interior to de-list species from the endangered species list when there is evidence demonstrating a species has recovered. It also penalizes those who intentionally submit false data in order to cause a species listing.”
I reintroduced the LIST Act, which authorizes the Sec of the Interior to de-list species from the endangered species list when there is evidence demonstrating a species has recovered. It also penalizes those who intentionally submit false data in order to cause a species listing. pic.twitter.com/sbn5fkL13x
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) June 18, 2021
