Washington, D.C. — More than 150 conservation groups, including Born Free USA, have signed a letter to President Obama asking him to oppose all riders that would undermine the Endangered Species Act (ESA) during negotiations on final spending legislation for Fiscal Year 2016.[teaserbreak]
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and Born Free Foundation, “The Endangered Species Act is the strongest and most effective law the U.S. has to protect imperiled wildlife both within our borders as well as abroad. Currently, the threats to global biodiversity have never been greater, and include manmade crises such as the loss of habitat and natural prey, intentional and unintentional killing, and disease transmission. It is imperative that the president not cave to baseless political rhetoric and irreparably weaken the best tool we have to stave off the current and ongoing extinction crisis.”
Congressional attacks on the ESA and other critical environmental protections have increased with alarming frequency in recent years, and both the Senate and the House of Representatives have included a record number of riders that weaken the ESA onto appropriations bills to fund the Department of the Interior for Fiscal Year 2016. The riders would remove vital protections for species at risk of extinction, prevent future protection for imperiled species, and otherwise dramatically undermine the ESA.
This letter follows two recent letters from both the House and the Senate in which 92 members of the House and 25 senators urged the president to steadfastly reject all riders that undermine the ESA in Fiscal Year 2016 spending legislation. It also follows a recent statement from the White House calling for a budget for Fiscal Year 2016 that is free of all ideological riders.
Excerpt: “As your Administration works with Congress to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill, we urge you to flatly reject all riders that undermine the Endangered Species Act in any way, including weakening or preventing protection for specific species. These harmful measures have no place in the appropriations context and only serve to chip away at one of America’s most popular and effective environmental laws. We look forward to working with your Administration to uphold the Endangered Species Act, continuing the legacy of conservation for which this great country is known.”
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation”—the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com