Reject proposal undermining Endangered Species Act protections

Clear-cutting trees, drilling for oil and gas, mining, and reckless development destroy vital habitats that countless species rely on for survival. The Endangered Species Act has been instrumental in protecting vulnerable flora and fauna for over 50 years, safeguarding iconic species like the bald eagle and gray wolf from extinction. However, the administration's proposal to rescind the rule defining "harm" as habitat destruction would severely undermine this bedrock environmental law. Animal and plant populations in the United States are already facing an existential crisis, with over one-third at risk of extinction due in large part to habitat loss. Ecosystems are intricate webs, and when one species disappears, entire systems can collapse in a cascading effect. This misguided proposal would open the floodgates for industries to callously destroy the habitats where endangered species live, feed, and raise their young, even when the damage clearly harms those species. We cannot allow this attack on a half-century of hard-won progress in protecting our nation's precious biodiversity. The Endangered Species Act is a common-sense law that recognizes destroying a species' home is tantamount to harming the species itself. I urge you to reject this destructive proposal and uphold strong safeguards for endangered plants, animals, and their habitats. The Earth's richness depends on preserving the diversity of life.