Lummis sponsors wolf delisting bill
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
February 5, 2011
U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), along with a bipartisan group of House colleagues have joined together to introduce legislation that removes protections the gray wolf receives under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Lummis released the following statement:
"The ESA should be based on sound science, not a political agenda; but it is clear that Washington has caved to environmentalists determined to prevent the gray wolf’s delisting.
"It’s been eight years since wolves in Wyoming have met the federal government’s recovery goals, yet Washington has yet to hold up its end of the deal. Meanwhile, wolf populations are thriving in the West while ranchers and big game herds suffer.
"We need a balanced and reasonable approach to wolf management that is carried out by the proper officials: Wyoming’s on the ground experts. As long as wolves continue to hurt Wyoming’s livestock owners and attack large game herds, I will continue to fight for this predator’s delisting."
Background:
Removal of the ESA designation would not end all protections for gray wolves; it would give wolf management authority to the states.
The gray wolf has been on the ESA since 1972. After reintroduction in 1995 and 1996, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) established a recovery goal of 300 individual wolves.
The gray wolf was declared recovered by the USFWS in 2002. Since then, Wyoming’s wolf populations have been exploding while delisting efforts are held up by Washington intrusion and lawsuits brought forth by environmental groups.
The following Members are lead sponsors of the legislation:
Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Jim Matheson (D-UT)
Denny Rehberg (R-MT)
Mike Ross (D-AR)
The following 12 Members are original sponsors of the legislation:
Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Leonard Boswell (D-IA)
Paul Broun (R-GA)
Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
John Kline (R-MN)
Mike Simpson (R-ID)
Greg Walden (R-OR)
Don Young (R-AK)
Dan Boren (D-OK)
Raul Labrador (R-ID)
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