{"id":8193,"date":"2017-07-20T10:29:53","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T14:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/?p=8193"},"modified":"2025-06-10T17:04:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T21:04:51","slug":"dear-congress-protect-the-integrity-of-the-esa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2017\/07\/20\/dear-congress-protect-the-integrity-of-the-esa\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Congress, protect the integrity of the ESA"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The bald eagle was listed as endangered in 1963. It was successfully recovered and delisted by 2007.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is one of our nation\u2019s bedrock environmental laws, preventing the extinction and helping the recovery of many American icons, including our national symbol \u2013 the\u00a0bald eagle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The act had the unanimous support of the Senate and a near-unanimous vote in the House when it was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1973. Today, 90 percent of American voters still support the law and want to see it maintained.<\/p>\n

The ESA\u2019s ongoing bipartisan history and continued support from the American public sends a clear message to Congress: Protect the integrity of the ESA.<\/p>\n

Opportunity for improvements<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The leading federal agencies responsible for effectively administering the ESA are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The divisive climate in Washington makes it risky for even well-intentioned proposals aimed at improving the law, but that doesn\u2019t mean policymakers can\u2019t work together to improve ESA implementation through administrative means.<\/p>\n

Rather than focusing on legislative changes to the Endangered Species Act, Congress can and should honor the bipartisan history of the ESA by supporting flexible, efficient and cooperative administrative solutions that can improve outcomes for both people and wildlife.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, western governors and other stakeholders from the agriculture, energy and conservation sectors have already come together through a series of workshops and roundtables to draw up some recommendations.<\/p>\n

No-regrets solutions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The western governors\u2019\u00a0policy resolution<\/a>\u00a0\u201cfor improving the efficacy of the ESA\u201d was released last month. It included a number of innovative and commendable ideas that can and should be pursued, but only through existing administrative channels without changes to the law:<\/strong><\/p>\n