Speak Up for the Endangered Species Act!

Subject: Support Our Endangered Species Act - It Works!

Dear Senator,

I am writing to express strong support for the Endangered Species Act. For over 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has been a safety net for wildlife and plants on the brink of extinction. It has been successful in preventing the extinction of native wildlife and plants, including the American Bald Eagle, Mexican Wolf, Northern Aplomado Falcon, Black-footed Ferret, Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Sacramento Prickly Poppy, and many other species.

We must protect the habitat of endangered plants and wildlife, and we must hold true to the Act's principle of recovery as the ultimate goal. One of the most effective ways to protect species is to protect the places they live. The Endangered Species Act protects the critical habitat that is needed to prevent the extinction of imperiled species. The Act requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to use the most rigorous science available when developing solutions to prevent extinction. The Endangered Species Act stands for fundamental principles that we all believe in and cannot allow to be weakened or removed.

However, the Endangered Species Act is under threat from special interests and the politicians to whom they give money. The House of Representatives passed a bill last September that would significantly weaken protections for endangered species and habitat. If this bill becomes law, it would eliminate habitat protection, abandon the commitment to recovering species on the brink of extinction, repeal protections against hazardous pesticides, and politicize the scientific decision-making process. In addition, it would set up an unprecedented entitlement program that would require the federal government to use taxpayers dollars to pay developers for complying with the Endangered Species Act's prohibition against killing or injuring endangered species.

Please support the Endangered Species Act and oppose any bill that would weaken protections for endangered species and habitat. We are especially concerned that any Senate bill would have to conference with the House bill and the resulting legislation would likely sap the Endangered Species Act of its strength. We owe it to future generations of humans and wildlife to be good stewards of the environment. No species, however small, should be lost on our watch. Extinction is forever. Thank you for your work to protect our nation's environment and natural resources. I look forward to hearing your stance on this issue.