McGovern Rejects Modified Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 – The House Thursday passed a controversial bill that opponents said would critically weaken the 1973 Endangered Species Act.
Rep. James McGovern joined 192 other members, predominately Democrats, with a handful of moderate Republicans, in voting against the legislation. It passed 229-193 and will now move to the Senate.
Introduced last week by Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), the 74-page bill would compensate landowners if the government blocks development to protect endangered species.
“We don’t pay power plants not to violate clean air laws or provide incentives for businesses to comply with minimum wage standards,” Mr. McGovern said on the House floor. “But under this bill, we would pay land owners to not break the law.”
Mr. McGovern added in an interview: “A lot of big developers want to be able to develop wherever they want. They’re not concerned about protecting endangered species and rare plant life. They want complete freedom to do whatever they want to do.”
The bill also proposes to eliminate critical habitat areas – – currently protected from harmful actions by federal agencies — and to give the secretary of the interior the responsibility of interpreting which scientific data are appropriate for legal decision making.
“The bill before us essentially guts the Endangered Species Act,” Mr. McGovern said during floor debate. “With the largest deficit in American history, is this the right time to open a slush fund that will funnel millions of dollars to developers and businesses while undoubtedly resulting in the extinction of unique animals and habitats in this country?”
Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) proposed an amendment to eliminate compensation to landowners for vetoed developments, strengthen recovery plans for endangered species and create a board of advisers for scientific decision making, but it was voted down 216-206. Mr. McGovern voted in favor, calling it a responsible way” to modernize the endangered species law. He added in an interview that the Boehlert-Miller proposal was “not perfect, but it’s a reasonable alternative.”
Supporters of Mr. Pombo’s legislation say that modernizing an outdated law is important for limiting federal regulation on local land.
Those opposed say the current law has saved hundreds of species from extinction.
“This is one vote in a series of votes that has attempted to roll back environmental protection laws,” Mr. McGovern said. “This Republican majority has been hostile to the environment.”
