Congressman Thomas Tiffany | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Thomas Tiffany | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) has expressed his disappointment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for choosing not to make any changes to the listing status of the Gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a statement, Congressman Tiffany emphasized the need for the House to pass the Trust the Science Act, which would remove the gray wolf from the list of federal endangered species and allow states to manage their populations.
"The Biden administration’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcement to make no changes to the status of the Gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act is misguided and fails to recognize the harm the species has caused in places like Wisconsin," said Congressman Tom Tiffany.
The Trust the Science Act, which was passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on April 28, 2023, aims to reissue the 2020 Department of the Interior final rule that delisted gray wolves in the lower 48 United States. It also seeks to prevent judicial review of the final rule by activist judges. Congressman Tiffany believes that the delisting of the gray wolf was based on the best available science and data.
"In 2020, the Department of the Interior and the USFWS delisted the gray wolf in the lower 48 United States through a process that included the best science and data available," explained Congressman Tiffany. "At over 6,000 wolves at the time of delisting, the gray wolf has been the latest Endangered Species Act success story with recoveries with significant populations in the Rocky Mountains and western Great Lakes regions."
Despite the USFWS's decision to maintain the gray wolf's listing status, the agency itself acknowledged that wolves are not at risk of extinction in the Western United States now or in the foreseeable future. This further supports Congressman Tiffany's call for the House to pass the Trust the Science Act.
In addition to his statement, Congressman Tiffany and his colleagues from the Natural Resources Committee sent a letter to the USFWS expressing concerns about the listing status of wolves and the agency's new "National Dialogue" proposal. This proposal could potentially impact state management plans and provide a means for the agency to relist wolves in the future.
The Trust the Science Act, with its focus on science-based decision-making and state management, aims to strike a balance between conservation efforts and allowing states to have greater control over their wildlife populations. Congressman Tiffany hopes that the House will recognize the importance of this legislation and take action to pass it.
As the debate surrounding the gray wolf's listing status continues, it remains to be seen whether the Trust the Science Act will gain the necessary support to become law. However, Congressman Tiffany's efforts to raise awareness and advocate for state management of the gray wolf population are likely to play a significant role in shaping the outcome of this issue.
Alerts Sign-up