news

Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Caucus, introduced a resolution designating May 19^th Endangered Species Day. The resolution recognizes the strong role that the ESA has played in safeguarding America’s environmental heritage and the need to prioritize conservation efforts to address the biodiversity crisis impacting plants and wildlife worldwide.

“The Endangered Species Act is among the most effective conservation legislation ever passed. For 50 years, we have come together in bipartisan fashion to protect species critical to maintaining the balance of our wildlife,” said Dingell. “Healthier wildlife populations mean healthier ecosystems, which results in stronger shorelines, less intense wildfires, better water quality, and fewer pests, among many other benefits. Now, as the United States is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, the protections of the ESA are more critical than ever, and we remain committed to preserving them.”

“This year, we celebrate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act, but we also face the daunting dual threats of climate change and mass extinction on wildlife all over the world,” said Grijalva. “Let us recognize this important day as an opportunity to reinvigorate our efforts to champion protections for species and support science-based decision-making for the next 50 years and beyond.”

“For decades the Endangered Species Act has been the centerpiece of conservation efforts to prevent extinction and rehabilitate populations of at-risk species,” said Beyer. “As policymakers concerned about the future of the planet’s biodiversity, it is essential that we continue to preserve this landmark law and take action to protect endangered species.”

In the United States and around the world, more than 2,300 species are recognized as at risk of extinction now or in the foreseeable future, and many more are experiencing declines in populations and future viability. Many scientists categorize our planet’s current biodiversity crisis as the sixth mass extinction event, with plant and wildlife species across the globe facing heightened risk of extinction that is largely driven by human activity.

View the full text of the resolution here. Learn more about the ESA Caucus here.