Committee backs memorial asking Congress to exempt military bases from Endangered Species Act

House Concurrent Memorial 02/2004, which urges the U.S. Congress to enact legislation exempting federal military bases and training facilities from the regulations and restrictions of the Endangered Species Act, received a due-pass recommendation from the Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee on March 7.

The measure was presented to the committee by a staff presenter identified in the record as Nick, who told members the memorial “urges the US Congress to enact legislation exempting federal military bases and training facilities from the regulations and restrictions of the endangered endangered species act.” Nick offered to answer questions after the presentation.

Sponsor commentary in committee stressed the state’s economic ties to the military. A committee member said the state receives “a pretty big contingency here in our state of dollars that come in from our military bases” tied to missions and contracting and argued the memorial would avoid deterring that activity.

The committee voted on a motion that HCM 02/2004 receive a due-pass recommendation. During the roll call, the minutes show Senator Austin recorded “No,” Senator Dunne recorded “Aye,” and Senator Gonzalez recorded “No.” The clerk announced “2 nays, and 1 not voting,” and the committee gave HCM 02/2004 a due-pass recommendation.

The memorial does not itself change state law; it is a request from the Arizona Legislature to the U.S. Congress. The committee record does not include additional text of the memorial beyond the cited purpose, and no formal fiscal analysis or legal opinion is recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.

The committee moved on after the vote; no further action on HCM 02/2004 is recorded in the transcript segment provided.