Introduction of the Pacific Northwest Gray Wold Management Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, the Pacific Northwest Gray Wolf Management Act of 2015. This legislation would remove the Gray Wolf from the ``List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife'' under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and return management authority for the species back to our Pacific Northwest states. A proposed rule released by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in June of 2013 found that the Gray Wolf population has grown substantially and is now considered to be recovered, and therefore, does not merit protection under the Endangered Species Act.

State governments are fully qualified to responsibly manage Gray Wolf populations and are better to meet the needs of local communities, ranchers, livestock, and wildlife populations. Delisting the Gray Wolf would allow state wildlife officials to more effectively manage wolf populations. We have seen that this is possible in states such as Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and we should allow Pacific Northwest States the same flexibility to manage these populations. This commonsense and straightforward bill would allow states to provide a more practical management program than the one currently in place by the federal government. I urge all members to join me in supporting this legislation.

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