Rep. Calvert Votes for Common Sense ESA Reforms

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a majority of his House colleagues in supporting H.R. 4315, the Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act. H.R. 4315 improves Endangered Species Act (ESA) transparency, enhances the role of states, and discourages harmful, frivolous litigation

"Riverside County continues to suffer economic harm because of the unintended consequences of the ESA and regular lawsuits by environmental extremists," said Rep. Calvert. "When the ESA was first approved the goal was to protect species, not to line the pockets of radical special interest groups and their lawyers. Legislation, like H.R. 4315, that restores some common sense to the application of our ESA law is long overdue. Protecting our environment and growing our economy are not mutually exclusive goals."

H.R. 4315's provisions include:

(Provided by the House Western Caucus)

• Requires the publication of the data used to make ESA listing decisions. Currently, much of the data used to justify listing decisions is unavailable to the public or independent scientific analysis.

• Require federal agencies to provide states, tribes and local governments with the data used to formulate a listing decision before a listing decision is made.

• Requires the consideration of data submitted by states, tribes and local governments as a part of the ESA process.

• Requires the tracking and publication of ESA-related litigation expenses, including taxpayer-funded attorney fees.

• Caps attorney fees for litigation filed under the Endangered Species Act at $125 an hour. This is the same cap that applies to claims under the Equal Access to Justice Act, a law passed for small businesses, veterans and federal benefit recipients who lack the financial means sue the government.