Sponsor
Andrew S. Biggs
Representative · R-AZ
The bill redirects ESA focus and federal funds toward domestic species and away from foreign land purchases to concentrate resources and reduce overseas spending, trading stronger U.S.-centered conservation and budget savings for weaker international conservation capacity, reduced diplomatic leverage, and potential gaps in managing some nonnative threats.
Federal agencies (Secretary of the Interior) will prioritize Endangered Species Act protections for species native to the United States, concentrating limited conservation resources on domestic biodiversity.
Taxpayers/federal budget will face reduced spending on purchasing foreign land because funds cannot be used for foreign land acquisition.
Rural communities and land managers will have reduced ability to list or coordinate control of nonnative invasive or harmful species because such species may be ineligible for ESA protections, hindering management efforts.
International conservation organizations and ecosystems abroad will lose the ability to secure habitat via U.S. funding or land acquisition, weakening global species protection and conservation outcomes.
The President and U.S. diplomatic efforts may have reduced leverage and fewer partnership tools in global environmental initiatives because restrictions limit foreign land acquisition and related cooperation.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits listing nonnative species under the ESA and bars use of certain ESA funds to acquire lands, waters, or interests in foreign countries.
Representative · R-AZ
Prohibits the federal government from listing species that are not native to the United States as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act and bars funds provided under a specific ESA assistance authority from being used to acquire lands, waters, or other interests in foreign countries. The bill narrows listing authority to native species only and restricts international conservation spending tied to land or water acquisition abroad.
Official title: To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 3, 2025