Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee advances EPA-style ESA overhaul as Republicans push recovery-focused reforms; Democrats warn of weakened protections
Summary
The House Natural Resources Committee adopted the amendment-in-the-nature-of-a-substitute to HR 1897, the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025, and voted to report the bill to the House. Republicans said the bill restores a recovery focus; Democrats warned it narrows habitat protections, reduces science-based review and increases extinction risk.
The House Natural Resources Committee voted to report HR 1897, the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025, to the full House after adopting an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Republicans described the bill as modernizing the ESA to emphasize recovery, clarify statutory definitions and reduce litigation-driven outcomes; Democrats said the measure would weaken essential protections for imperiled species and reduce scientific rigor.
Ranking Member Jared Huffman, in extended remarks opposing the bill, said it would be "deeply harmful to wildlife," create loopholes…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
