The Honorable John Barrasso
Chairman
Committee on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Thomas R. Carper
Ranking Member
Committee on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Rob Bishop
Chairman
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Raul Grijalva
Ranking Member
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Barrasso, Senator Carper, Chairman Bishop and Representative Grijalva,
Your work to review the Endangered Species Act and improve its implementation is important. It has a significant impact on states. Governors are also working on this issue. Therefore, on behalf of the nation’s governors, we ask that before legislation is introduced altering the Endangered Species Act, you continue seeking input from the states for how best to improve and reauthorize this critical legislation.
In 2015, the Western Governors’ Association began an initiative that seeks to identify ways to improve the efficacy of the Endangered Species Act and help states share best practices in species management. That important work continues. Recently the National Governors Association adopted a set of principles that governors believe are essential to any effort to improve the Endangered Species Act.
Governors are committed to ensuring vibrant wildlife populations and look forward to continuing to share our thoughts, both collectively and individually, with you to ensure that the Endangered Species Act protects species and works effectively across the country.
Sincerely,
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., California
Chair, Natural Resources Committee
Governor Matthew H. Mead, Wyoming
Vice Chair, Natural Resources Committee
