Endangered Species Act (ESA)
The ESA at 50
Author
Madison Calhoun, Sharmeen Morrison, Derb Carter, J.B. Ruhl, Sean Skaggs, and William Snape III
Author Bios (long)

Madison Calhoun is Senior Manager of Educational Programs at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). Sharmeen Morrison (moderator) is a Senior Associate Attorney in the Biodiversity Defense Program at Earthjustice. Derb Carter is a Senior Attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. J.B. Ruhl is David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair in Law and Co-Director of the Energy, Environment, and Land Use Program at Vanderbilt Law School. Sean Skaggs is a Partner with Ebbin Moser + Skaggs LLP. William Snape III is Assistant Dean of Adjunct Faculty Affairs, American University Washington College of Law.

Date
February 2024
Volume
54
Issue
2
Page
10101
Type
Dialogue
Summary

December 2023 marked 50 years since the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law. The ESA has proven resilient to numerous legal challenges and saved many species from extinction. But its overall success has been debated, as the list of endangered and threatened species continues to grow, and only 54 species have been taken off of the list completely. On October 26, 2023, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts who explored the successes and shortcomings of the statute and discussed what might happen next as climate change increases the risk of extinction. This Dialogue presents a transcript of that discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.

H.R. 6546
Update Type
Bills Introduced
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6546
Committee Name
Committee on Natural Resources
Sponsor Name
Bentz
Sponsor Party Affiliation
R-Or.
Issue
2
Volume
54
Update Issue
35
Update Volume
53
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
169 Cong. Rec. H6079

would amend the ESA to allow certain activities to be carried out with regard to certain fish held in captivity or a controlled environment.

H.R. 6393
Update Type
Bills Introduced
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6393
Committee Name
Committee on Natural Resources
Sponsor Name
Waltz
Sponsor Party Affiliation
R-Fla.
Issue
1
Volume
54
Update Issue
33
Update Volume
53
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
169 Cong. Rec. H5728

would amend the ESA to allow certain activities to be conducted with respect to sturgeon held in captivity or in a controlled environment in the United States.

H.R. 764
Update Type
Committee Action
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/764
Committee Name
Committee on Natural Resources
Committee Report
H. Rep. No. 118-206
Issue
11
Volume
53
Update Issue
27
Update Volume
53
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
169 Cong. Rec. H4436

would require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the ESA.

H.R. 1245
Update Type
Committee Action
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1245
Committee Name
Committee on Natural Resources
Committee Report
H. Rep. No. 118-204
Issue
11
Volume
53
Update Issue
27
Update Volume
53
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
169 Cong. Rec. H4436

would direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule relating to removing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

S. 2870
Update Type
Bills Introduced
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2870
Committee Name
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Sponsor Name
Scott
Sponsor Party Affiliation
R-Fla.
Issue
11
Volume
53
Update Issue
27
Update Volume
53
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
169 Cong. Rec. S4630

would amend the ESA to allow certain activities to be conducted with respect to sturgeon held in captivity or in a controlled environment in the United States.

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