Press Releases

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 4318, The Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act, introduced by Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) by a vote of 27-15. H.R. 4318 prioritizes resources for species protection by placing reasonable caps on attorney's fees and making the Endangered Species Act (ESA) limits consistent with other federal law. Congressman Huizenga released the following statement on H.R. 4318:

"I am pleased to see this common sense piece of legislation pass favorably out of committee. H.R. 4318 restores logic and responsible governance by bringing ESA litigation in line with the $125 per hour limit established by the Equal Access to Justice Act. Simply put, ESA funding should be used for its intended goal of species protection and recovery, not for lining the pockets of trial lawyers."

Background:

H.R. 4318 is a one page (front and back) piece of legislation that reforms the litigation process surrounding the Endangered Species Act (ESA) while enhancing wildlife preservation, improving government efficiency, and protecting taxpayer dollars.

Last May, Congressman Huizenga was selected to join the Endangered Species Act Working Group. Since the last reauthorization of the ESA took place over 25 years ago, this group was created to examine the ESA from all angles and look for potential ways to improve the act for both society and species. The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in 1973 and was last reauthorized in 1988.

Over the past year, the ESA Working Group has been examining various questions surrounding the Endangered Species Act including the following: What is the appropriate way to measure ESA progress; how is success defined regarding the ESA; Is litigation driving the ESA; and what are the roles of state and local governments in recovering species?