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URGE CONGRESS TO OPPOSE WEAKENING LAWS THAT PROTECT WILDLIFE

Have your voice heard. We’re calling on you to urge Members of Congress to oppose efforts that would weaken the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act—two of America's most effective and time-tested conservation laws.

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Your Message
Protect bedrock environmental laws that keep vulnerable species safe
Dear Member of Congress:

As your constituent and a supporter of the Wildlife Conservation Society, I am writing to urge you to work with your colleagues to oppose legislative efforts to weaken America’s bedrock environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

For more than 50 years, the ESA and the MMPA have successfully worked to preserve our nation’s most vulnerable species. Bald eagles, American alligators, and humpback whales are just a handful of important species that owe their recoveries to these laws, which still stand as guideposts for environmental laws for countries around the world.

Legislation is moving, particularly in the House, that would roll back the protections provided by these laws. Under focused attack is language in both laws that requires decisions to be made using only the best available science and commercial data available. Republicans and Democrats included this language in the original Acts to ensure that the future of species were not caught up in partisan political disputes. One bill recently considered by the House Natural Resources Committee would require the federal government to deem any information submitted by a state or local government as the best available science or data, even if the information in question is widely discredited or even demonstrably false. Another bill moving through the House would effectively require the approval of any permit requesting to incidentally kill or harm marine mammals by setting an arbitrarily short review period of only 30 days.

Legislative riders have been attached to appropriations bills that would block enforcement of both laws with regard to invoking protections for certain species. If passed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration would be blocked from enforcing protections for species like the wolverine, northern long-eared bat and several others that were made under the ESA based on the best available science and commercial data.

Some of these bills are expected to move before the end of the year. I urge you to work to ensure that no legislation passes that would result in weakening our nation’s bedrock environmental laws. Thank you for your consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

Wildlife and wild places are facing pressing global threats
— and your donation will go directly to help combat these issues.

Wildlife Crime

Poaching, trafficking, and illegal trade endanger hundreds of vulnerable species.

Climate Crisis

Changes in climate jeopardize biodiversity and the health of entire ecosystems.

Habitat Destruction

Logging, mining, burning: human encroachment destroys homes and havens for wildlife.

We stand for wildlife

For 125 years, WCS has been dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places, powered by the expertise and science in our zoos, aquarium, and global conservation program.

Our legacy of success now positions us perfectly to take on the world’s most pressing conservation challenges—the zoonotic pandemic crisis, the decline in the world’s biodiversity, and the climate crisis—with urgent and bold action.

We focus on protecting the planet’s most important, ecologically intact places with the greatest biodiversity and resilience to climate change. With your help, we can secure a future worth celebrating.

WCS works to save wildlife and wild places in 60 countries, across the ocean, and in our 4 NY zoos and aquarium

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