1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to express my steadfast opposition to H.R. 1897, the ESA Amendments Act, and any future attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA). While I was encouraged to see that the floor vote was canceled on April 22, I am contacting you to ensure there is no ambiguity regarding my position: this pause must be permanent. Protecting our nation’s biodiversity is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental American value. I expect you to reject any attempt to revive this bill or similar measures that undermine the integrity of the ESA. As your constituent, I believe the ESA must remain intact for two critical reasons: 1. The Ecological Foundation of Our Country The ESA is our most effective tool for preventing extinction, boasting a 99% success rate in keeping listed species from disappearing. When we lose a single species, we risk a domino effect that destabilizes entire ecosystems. These ecosystems provide the essential services we take for granted: clean water filtration, crop pollination, and natural flood control. Protecting at-risk species is the only way to ensure these natural systems remain resilient for future generations. 2. The Economic Case for Conservation Conservation is a powerful economic engine. The outdoor recreation economy—which relies heavily on healthy, biodiverse habitats—contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. GDP annually and supports millions of jobs. Furthermore, the ESA protects nature's medicine cabinet. With over 50% of the world’s top prescribed medicines derived from nature, we cannot afford to lose the biological blueprints for future cures because of short-term industrial interests. Weakening the ESA for minor administrative gains is a "penny wise, pound foolish" strategy that risks long-term economic stability. H.R. 1897 would have undermined the science-based decision-making that makes the ESA work. I ask that you stand with the 84% of Americans who support this landmark law and reject any future attempts to gut its protections.