America's fish and wildlife enrich our lives and add more than $100 billion to the nation's economy each year. For over 30 years the Endangered Species Act has worked to safeguard America's fish and wildlife by preventing the extinction of hundreds of animals across the country. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act the wolf has returned to Yellowstone, wild salmon still spawn in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest and the bald eagle once again soars from coast to coast.

Last summer House Resources Committee Chair Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) has passed harmful legislation through the House of Representatives which would seriously degrade the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. Pombo's legislation, HR 3824, the "Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005," (more appropriately known as the Pombo Extinction Bill) would remove basic protections for threatened and endangered species and wildlife habitat by cutting meaningful environmental review and excluding the public from the decision making processes.

Now, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, chaired by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), is drafting ESA legislation that could move through the Senate this spring. This year is the closest that anti-conservationists have come to dismantling landmark protections for threatened and endangered wildlife in the last 12 years. Sierra Club is working to ensure that the Endangered Species Act remains strong and enforced so that future generations of Americans are able to enjoy fish and wildlife just as we have.

What You Can Do:

Contact your Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer today and ask them to maintain a strong Endangered Species Act. Urge your Senators to oppose Congressman Pombo's efforts to turn back the clock on fish and wildlife conservation.

Dianne Feinstein
(202) 224-3841
E-mail via website: www.feinstein.senate.gov

Barbara Boxer
(202)224-3553
E-mail via website: www.boxer.senate.gov

Message: Oppose Rep. Pombo's Attempts to Gut the Endangered Species Act ­ Maintain Strong Protections for Wildlife

Talking points:

• The Endangered Species Act works. Of all the species ever conserved under the Act over 99% of them, including the bald eagle, have been saved from extinction.
• Congressman Pombo's bill would impose costly new burdens on the public, including requiring the public to pay developers, the oil industry and other special interests to avoid harming or killing endangered wildlife.
• Congressman Pombo's bill would eliminate conservation measures on tens-of-millions of acres of land, the "critical habitat" endangered species need to survive and recover.
• America's fish and wildlife benefit from a strong ESA and need more support. In order to help wildlife Senators should promote better implementation of the ESA through increased funding and resources for agency personnel and better management of fish and wildlife habitat on federal lands.