There is still time to call your Representatives!
House discussion of the Interior/EPA Appropriations bill is underway now, but votes on amendments will be held tomorrow, Wednesday July 8, 2015, when the House comes back into session at 12pm EST.
This means there is still time to call your Representatives and encourage them to:
- Vote “yes” on Rep. Tsongas (D-MA) amendment to strike all anti-ESA riders in the bill, including the proposal to legislatively delist wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Wyoming.
- Oppose Rep. Newhouse (R-WA) amendment to block the protection of gray wolves in Washington, Oregon and Utah under the Endangered Species Act.
- Reject any future attempts to legislatively strip protections from endangered species through amendments on the Interior Department Appropriations Bill.
According to a new national poll from Earthjustice and Defenders of Wildlife, 90% of American registered voters support the ESA, and 71% of voters believe “decisions about which species should or should not be protected under the Endangered Species Act should be made by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, not by members of Congress.”
And yet, despite overwhelming public opinion in support of the protection of the ESA, the FY 2016 House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill threatens to undermine the effectiveness of the ESA with 25 anti-environmental riders that have been inserted into the bill in Committee. One of these riders would remove endangered species protection for the gray wolf in Wyoming and the Great Lake states, others would weaken protections for the northern long-eared bats, jeopardize the conservation of the greater sage-grouse and even facilitate the killing of elephants by blocking regulatory controls on the sale of illegal ivory.
Call your Representatives and encourage them to protect our nation’s land, water and wildlife.
Find contact information for individual U.S. Representatives, here. Or call the switchboard (202) 456-1414.
Tweet to your House members using the hashtag #GreenUpCongress in solidarity with the broader conservation community. Here is a handy list of each Congressional office’s twitter handle. Here are some example tweets provided by Earthjustice:
- 9 in 10 Americans support the Endangered Species Act. So why are some in Congress trying to weaken it? #GreenUpCongress #standforwolves
- 90% of voters support the ESA, but some in Congress are still trying to pick it apart. Speak out! #standforwolves http://dfnd.us/1gbLe5J
- Poll shows voters want scientists, not politicians, to make ESA decisions. Hasn’t stopped Congress from trying. #standforwolves http://dfnd.us/1gbLe5J
- Voters know we don’t have to choose between jobs & #wildlife. Tell Congress to protect the ESA http://dfnd.us/1gbLe5J #GreenUpCongress #standforwolves
And send some thanks to Rep. Tongas (D-MA) and Rep. Beyers (D-VA) for standing up for wolves and the ESA! Here are some sample tweets:
- Thank you @nikiinthehouse for speaking out against attacks on endangered species! #standforwolves #GreenUpCongress
- Thank you @RepDonBeyer for speaking out against attacks on endangered species, including wolves! #standforwolves #GreenUpCongress
Consult other calls to action:
- Take Action with Earthjustice to Protect the Endangered Species Act from Political Attacks
- The Humane Society of the United States’ plea to Protect Imperiled Elephants and Wolves.
- Center for Biological Diversity’s sample script for your call: Wolves Under Attack — call your representative now
- The Legend of Lamar Valley’s call to action.
- Defenders of Wildlife’s call to Vote to Protect Wildlife and Wildlands.
- Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin’s post to Take Action to Protect Wolves
