WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, has joined efforts with nine other federal legislators to form a workgroup to examine the Endangered Species Act and suggest updates to policy to better protect endangered wildlife, according to a press release from his office.
“It is clear the ESA is in desperate need of reform, not only for the sake of our species, but for the men and women of Central Washington who are negatively impacted by its land use restrictions, impact on property values, and costly permitting requirements. I am proud to launch this working group with House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman to work towards providing tangible, actionable solutions to the ESA for the betterment of the American people and species recovery,” Newhouse said in the release.
In June, the Biden Administration announced that President Joe Biden was working to reinstate protections set forth in the ESA that had been curtailed by former President Donald Trump. This includes restoring blanket protections for species newly classified as threatened under the terms of the law, which Trump had removed in 2019.
Grant and Adams counties are home to multiple endangered or threatened species, including Pygmy Rabbits and a species of ground squirrel.
