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Tanya Augustson, (202) 347-0228, taugustson@beef.org

Karen Batra, (202) 347-0228, kbatra@beef.org

Bipartisan ESA Bill Sees Swift Passage in House
Cattlemen Commend Pombo’s Efforts to Improve Species Recovery, Help Landowners

Washington, D.C. (September 29, 2005) – America’s ranchers are supporting efforts to reform and improve the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and  applaud passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today.

H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA), was introduced by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) on September 19 and was approved by the full House today by a vote of 229-193.

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) have identified the issue as a top priority for ranchers and landowners for many years.  As the only national trade group representing cattle producers on environmental issues, NCBA says today’s victory represents a need for common-sense recovery programs that really work.

“Working on the land everyday, we see firsthand the successes and failures of conservation programs. The hard truth is, the ESA doesn’t work,” says NCBA President and Texas cattleman Jim McAdams.  “This 32-year old statute has burdened landowners and produced no real benefit to the species it claims to protect.”

Since enactment in 1973, the Endangered Species Act has recovered less than 1 percent of the species listed. Pombo says there is a better way, and ranchers agree.

For example, TESRA provides:

·         incentives for landowners and private parties to participate in on-the-ground conservation and recovery efforts

·         compensation for ranchers who incur losses as a result of wolf attacks on livestock. 

·         better protection of private property rights

“These provisions show that representatives from both political parties have an awareness of livestock producers’ needs and how we can actively contribute to species conservation,” says Mike Byrne, PLC President and a California rancher.  “And by providing incentives for ranchers to participate in species recovery, we can actually develop the programs that have been proven to work.”

Byrne points to recovery of the greater sage grouse as an example.  “Ranchers across the West are involved in local conservation partnerships that have recovered the bird and enhanced sage grouse habitat,” says Byrne.  “As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided the bird doesn’t need to be listed under ESA.  The fact is, voluntary, on-the-ground efforts are far more effective than outdated federal mandates.”

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