Oppose Harmful Endangered Species Act Riders Take Action! The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations’ Interior and Environment has released its appropriations bill for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year. This bill includes numerous riders that significantly weaken the protections of the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, it reverses key progress made during the current administration in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises. Key changes in the bill include a $144 million cut to funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which includes a 20% reduction for listing new species under the Endangered Species Act. This reduction can negatively impact manatee conservation efforts. In addition, it blocks funds for implementing the current administration’s newly finalized ESA regulations, which was recently discussed in our op-ed. Further, it blocks funding for conservation measures related to wildlife refuges, such as the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, which is a critical warm-water refuge for manatees during the winter months. We ask you to send the below pre-formed letter to urge appropriation committee members to oppose these changes along with any other anti-wildlife amendments. NOTE: Many committee members may have restrictions on who can send messages, so if the sending fails, please consider tagging them on Facebook or X/Twitter with a message instead. House Appropriations Committee Chair: Tom Cole, GOP, @TomColeOK04 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related AgenciesGOP Members:Chair Mike Simpson, @CongMikeSimpsonMark Amodei, @MarkAmodeiNV2Guy Reschenthaler, @GReschenthalerRyan Zinke, @RyanZinkeJake Ellzey, @RepEllzeyChuck Edwards, @RepChuckEdwardsDemocratic Members:Chellie Pingree, @chelliepingreeBetty McCollum, @BettyMcCollum04Derek Kilmer, @RepDerekKilmerJosh Harder, @RepJoshHarderHouse Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesGOP Members:Hal Rogers, Chair, @RepHalRogersRobert Aderholt, @Robert_AderholtMike Garcia, @RepMikeGarciaJohn Carter, @JudgeCarterBen Cline, @RepBenClineTony Gonzales, @RepTonyGonzalesAndrew Clyde, @Rep_ClydeJake Ellzey, @RepEllzeyDemocratic Members:Matt Cartwright, @RepCartwrightGrace Meng, @RepGraceMengDutch Ruppersberger, @Call_Me_DutchDavid Trone, @RepDavidTroneJoe Morelle, @RepJoeMorelle Recipients Targeted recipients based on your address Contact *Required fields * Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Miss Dr. * First Name: * Last Name: * Your Email: * Address 1: Address 2: * City: * State / Province: Choose a State AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY AS FM GU MH MP PR PW VI * ZIP / Postal Code: * Phone Number: 1. Question - Not Required - If you would like to receive emails, please choose which topics you are interested in. Action Alerts Newsletters Special Campaigns Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Save the Manatee Club. I would prefer not to share my personal information with Save the Manatee Club. Message * Subject: Dear [Decision Maker], * Personalize your message I am writing to express my strong opposition to the FY25 Interior Appropriations bill, which, in addition to slashing funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has riders that weaken the Endangered Species Act. As we face an accelerating and unprecedented wildlife extinction crisis, now more than ever we need Congress to uphold our environmental laws and protect our nation's most vulnerable animals and plants. For these reasons, I urge you to increase funding for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, oppose the harmful wildlife riders listed below as well as any additional anti-wildlife amendments during full committee markup. Sec. 136 Blocks Revisions to Harmful Endangered Species Act Regulations. This rider weakens the Endangered Species Act and the federal rulemaking process by preventing the Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing or enforcing its 2024 regulations. These regulations reversed or revised the previous administration's rules that undermined Section 4 (listing and critical habitat) and Section 7 (interagency consultations) of the Act. Sec. 141 Blocks the National Wildlife Refuge System's Biodiversity Rule. This rider would prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from finalizing a rule aimed at protecting the Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (BIDEH) of nearly 600 National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. These refuges are home to over 500 threatened or endangered species, nearly one-third of all species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed BIDEH rule is urgently needed to address unprecedented challenges threatening the long-term ecological viability of the Refuge System, such as climate change, agricultural production, habitat loss, and the spread of invasive species. Sincerely,[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP][Your Email]
