Press Release

August 12, 2019
Cardin Condemns the Administration’s Proposal to Weaken the Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement condemning the Department of Interior’s proposal to weaken key provisions of the Endangered Species Act, announced today.

“The new regulations finalized today that weaken vital sections of the Endangered Species Act serve as yet another example of the Trump Administration ignoring the interests of Marylanders. In the Fish and Wildlife Service’s most recent report estimating the economic role of national wildlife refuge recreational visitation, the contribution of recreational spending in local Maryland communities was associated with about 3,719 jobs, $123.95 million in employment income, $34.8 million in total tax revenue, and $399.4 million in economic output.

“I’ve called on my colleagues in Congress to reject amendments that would undermine the Endangered Species Act in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills and the farm bill. The Endangered Species Act, which is helping to recover the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel in Maryland, continues to be one of our country’s most popular and successful environmental laws. That’s why I’ll continue to fight the Trump Administration’s regulatory actions that run counter to the bipartisan will of Congress, like those announced today.”

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