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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 that let "conservation benefits" be used to avoid environmental review and reduce funding for recovery. "This bill dismantles incentives for real conservation," Huffman said, adding that the measure "shrinks what counts as habitat" and risks pushing species closer to extinction.
Supporters, including the bill sponsor and several Republicans from Western and rural districts, argued the ESA needs clearer recovery goals and that the existing implementation has failed to prioritize delisting and on-the-ground recovery. Rep. Hageman said the bill would bring back recovery incentives and provide ‘‘objective incremental recovery goals for listed species.''
The committee considered numerous amendments. Notable actions included adoption of Hageman 108 (renaming emphasis to recovery), Gosar 070 (additional congressional notification requirements for large critical-habitat actions), Stauber 1 (coordination with state, local and tribal governments), and Gray 19 (modifying the committee-review/God Squad-type process). Several other amendments were debated and postponed for recorded votes.
After votes and further amendment consideration, committee leadership adopted the ANS as amended and ordered HR 1897 reported to the House with a favorable recommendation; the clerk reported the recorded vote as 25 ayes and 16 nays. Many Democrats signaled intent to file dissenting views and several recorded votes on postponed amendments were expected.
The bill and its amendments touch on definitions of habitat, the role of economic considerations in certain decisions, fee caps in litigation and tribal consultation language. The committee's action moves the package to the House floor where managers will determine further consideration and amendment opportunities.
