1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

**Oppose SB537 to Protect Wildlife From Lead Poisoning** I'm asking you to oppose SB537, which would strip federal agencies of their authority to regulate lead ammunition and tackle on public lands. This bill prioritizes convenience over science and puts wildlife at serious risk. Lead poisoning kills raptors and waterfowl across federal lands every year. The bill sets an impossibly high bar for any restrictions, requiring agencies to prove that lead is the "primary cause" of wildlife population declines using field data. That standard ignores how lead toxicity actually works. Birds don't need to die in massive numbers for lead to cause harm. Even sublethal exposure impairs reproduction, weakens immune systems, and causes neurological damage. SB537 also gives state fish and wildlife departments veto power over federal land management decisions. That's backwards. Federal agencies manage public lands for all Americans and have a legal duty to protect trust resources, including endangered species. This bill would let states block necessary protections even when federal scientists identify clear threats to wildlife. We have effective non-lead alternatives available today. There's no reason to handcuff federal agencies from addressing a documented environmental hazard. Vote no on SB537.