Conservation in the Crosshairs: Senate Sportsmen's Bill Mimics Destructive House Version

Throughout my career, I've witnessed progress on many conservation issues, including endangered species protection, habitat management and the fight against climate change. But in recent years, the cornerstone environmental laws that safeguard our natural heritage have come under ever more aggressive attacks from Congress.

Legislative proposals that assault the integrity of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and undermine conservation crop up almost everywhere you look. H.R. 2406, the so-called "Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act," passed the House of Representatives in February. Supposedly meant to improve sporting and recreational opportunities, it was riddled with anti-environmental provisions and was a disaster for our wildlife and public lands. Now, S. 659, the "Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2016," has been approved by the Senate Environment Committee and is waiting for consideration by the full Senate. Some of the worst provisions in the House bill also appear in this Senate version.

More...