Letter to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Ashe and Secretary Jewell urges finalizing a proposed rule to delist the gray wolf.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Yesterday U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large) and Dan Newhouse (WA-04) sent a letter, along with 35 of their colleagues, to urge Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe to move forward with finalizing a June 2013 proposed rule to delist the gray wolf (Canis lupus) nationally from the “List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“We write to you in strong support of the proposed rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Department of Interior (DOI) to delist the gray wolf (Canis lupus) nationally, though we are very concerned with the lack of progress USFWS and DOI have made on this important issue,” the Members wrote. “We urge you to move forward with the implementation of the gray wolf delisting effort proposed by USFWS and ask that you deny any request seeking to rescind or modify the proposed rule.
“In addition to scientific data showing significant increases to the number of wolves nationally, the proposed rule also recognizes a number of significant changes in scientists’ understanding of the taxonomy and historic habitat in the 37 years since the gray wolf was first listed as endangered.
“The failure by USFWS to fully delist the gray wolf has also led to decreased ‘social tolerance’ and has hurt the ability of many states to maintain this critically-important facet of successful wolf recovery. This complex issue includes various considerations – from social to economic and political – and a state’s ability to manage their gray wolf population relies on the input and buy-in of a variety of stakeholders, who can be disenfranchised by the failure to remove problem wolves (lethally or through other means).”
Rep. Lummis has additionally co-sponsored legislation to restore the approved state management plans for the gray wolf in both Wyoming and the Western Great Lakes region.
The letter was signed by Reps. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Dan Benishek (R-MI), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Ken Buck (R-CO), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Kevin Cramer ((R-ND), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Raúl Labrador (R-ID), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Doug Lamborn ((R-CO), Mia Love (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Jeff Miller (R-FL), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Steve Pearce (R-MN), Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), Reid Ribble ((R-WI), David Rouzer (R-NC), Paul Ryan (R-WI), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Adrian Smith ((R-NE), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Scott Tipton (R-CO), Greg Walden (R-OR), Ted Yoho (R-FL), Don Young (R-AK), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT).
For the full text of the letter click here or see below
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