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House Improves Endangered Species Act
The nation’s home builders cited several important reforms in Endangered Species Act legislation that was passed by the House last week.
Approved by a bipartisan vote of 229 to 193, the bill would strengthen existing law by enhancing species conservation and protection efforts, eliminating excessive environmental regulation and giving private landowners incentives to enact voluntary conservation measures.
“House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) are to be commended for their tireless efforts to work in a bipartisan manner to move this important legislation through the Congress,” said NAHB President David Wilson.
Among its many positive provisions, H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act, would:
- Eliminate critical habitat from the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- Require that the statute’s listing provisions be based on the “best available scientific data”
- Ensure that local and regional land use agencies are consulted when the federal government develops recovery plans
- Protect private property rights
- Codify the “no surprises” policy to give private property owners, state and local governments and community organizations the necessary regulatory certainty to continue their species and conservation efforts
- Compensate private landowners for takings under the ESA
- Establish a grant program for private property owners who voluntarily participate in species conservation
The Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973 with the mission of protecting and preserving species that have been identified as threatened or endangered. Since that time, more than 1,250 domestic species have been listed for protection, but less than a dozen have “recovered” and been removed from the list because of their growing numbers.
“Over the past 30 years, the ESA has obviously fallen short of its goals,” said Wilson. “H.R. 3824 represents a common-sense, bipartisan approach to update and improve the law that would benefit species, landowners and the federal agencies responsible for recovering threatened and endangered species. We urge the Senate to follow suit by acting quickly to introduce companion legislation.”
To reads the legislation, click here, and enter H.R. 3824 in the box at the upper left.
For more information, e-mail Michael Strauss at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8252.
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