WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers should focus on investing in recovering America’s wildlife instead of weakening the Endangered Species Act, which is itself essential to reverse widespread and persistent fish and wildlife population declines. 

“This package of bills, taken together, would weaken the Endangered Species Act — our most important bulwark against extinction in the middle of a wildlife crisis. While not all the ideas in these bills are unreasonable, Congress should focus on getting wildlife managers the funding they need to keep species from becoming threatened or endangered,” said Mike Leahy, director of Wildlife, Hunting and Fishing Policy. “The best approach is to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and fully fund the Endangered Species Act to recover species that are already endangered.”