Mucarsel-Powell Leads on Fight Against Trump’s Weakening of Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, helped introduced legislation to repeal all three Trump Administration final rule changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Under Trump’s rules, the Administration can ignore long-term threats to wildlife from climate change and remove guaranteed protections to threatened species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, essentially nullifying the value of a threatened listing.

“South Florida’s unique ecosystems are home to many endemic species, like the Key deer, that are becoming increasingly endangered,” said Mucarsel-Powell. “You don’t have to go far in Florida to see the devastating effects the climate and species extinction crises are having on our environment. Now is not the time to be gutting protections for threatened and endangered species. I’ll keep fighting to restore the protections of the Endangered Species Act and protect Florida’s flora and wildlife.”

In mid-August, the iconic Key deer was in consideration for removal from the Endangered Species List. The Trump Administration’s erosion of the ESA makes it more difficult to protect and recover threatened and endangered species. The ESA has kept 99% of species listed under it from going extinct, and the ESA continues to enjoy bipartisan support across the country. Members of the public submitted hundreds of thousands of comments decrying Trump’s proposed changes during a public comment period earlier this year.

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