Two bills were introduced in Congress during the 2005 session, which will make needed changes to the Endangered Species Act. The Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005 (TESRA) was introduced in the House of Representatives, and the Collaboration for Recovery of Endangered Species Act (CRESA) was introduced in the Senate. Some of the highlights of these bills include:
- Focuses on Species Recovery
- Provides Landowner Incentives
- Increases openness and accountability
- Strengthens Scientific Standards
- Protects Private Property Owner Rights
- Eliminates Dysfunctional Critical Habitat Designations
Whereas millions of acres of federal, state and private lands have been set aside under the Endangered Species Act for the protection and recovery of endangered species during the past three decades.
WHEREAS, after three decades of implementation, the Endangered Species Act has only recovered only 10 of the roughly 1300 species on its list which is less than one percent.
WHEREAS, The Endangered Species Act has created conflict, bureaucracy, and rampant litigation, halting many federal actions, and often causing private landowners to lose the access and use of their own land.
WHEREAS without meaningful improvements the Endangered Species Act will remain a failed managed care program that puts species on a protected list, but does very little in the way of actual protection for those species to get them off of the list.
NOW, THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Oregon Logging Conference and its members go on record in support of both H.R. 3824 the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005 which has been introduced in the House of Representatives and the Collaboration For Recovery of Endangered Species Act which has been introduced into the United States Senate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that with this improved legislation we will not be protecting species at the expense of our fellow Americans and their jobs. We can and must protect both endangered species and people.