Summary of Bill HR 130
Bill 119 hr 130, also known as the Gray Wolf State Management Act of 2021, aims to remove the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations that would delist the gray wolf, allowing states to manage their populations.
Supporters of the bill argue that the gray wolf population has recovered significantly since being listed as endangered, and that states should have the authority to manage their own wildlife populations. They believe that delisting the gray wolf will help reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock, as well as give states more flexibility in conservation efforts.
Opponents of the bill, however, are concerned that removing protections for the gray wolf could lead to a decline in their population and threaten their survival. They argue that the Endangered Species Act is necessary to ensure the continued protection of vulnerable species, and that delisting the gray wolf could have negative ecological consequences.
Overall, the Gray Wolf State Management Act of 2021 is a controversial piece of legislation that raises important questions about the balance between conservation efforts and state management of wildlife populations. It will be important for lawmakers to carefully consider the potential impacts of delisting the gray wolf before making a decision on this bill.
Congressional Summary of HR 130
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This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove protections for the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Specifically, the bill requires Interior to reissue the final rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and published on November 3, 2020.
The rule removed the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States, except for the Mexican wolf (C. l. baileyi) subspecies, from the endangered and threatened species list. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the rule on February 10, 2022. As a result, the gray wolf reattained the protection status it had prior to the rule's promulgation.
The bill also prohibits the reissuance of the rule from being subject to judicial review.