Preserve Marine Mammal Protection Act - Oppose Irresponsible "Reform"

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you to oppose any efforts to weaken or eliminate the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This vital law that has safeguarded marine mammals from harmful human activities for over 50 years, yet Republicans see no need for it. The Act prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing, or killing of most marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas. It is an essential piece of legislation that protects these remarkable creatures and their habitats. However, recent efforts to weaken or undermine the MMPA are a red flag, and especially so coming from the extremist Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman, about as imbalanced a person that has ever held office. How it threatened anything in Wyoming, a land-locked state if she knew how to read a map, is a mystery. All Hageman ever talks about is “improving the regulatory process”. In Republican speak this means a free-for-all, with no regulations or protections at all. The committee Hageman represents has offered proposed changes that could jeopardize the progress made in conserving vulnerable marine mammal populations and threaten their long-term survival. We must uphold the integrity of the MMPA and ensure it continues to provide robust protections for these species. Our oceans need protections. Biodiversity is threatened. I suggest legislation action on other bills to reinforce the MMPA or help environmental groups invoke legal action against allies of Hageman and Republicans that are trying to damage the Marine Mammal Protection Act. A patchwork of state regulations would be inadequate and could lead to further population declines. Additionally, the MMPA has proven effective in facilitating the recovery of several marine mammal species, including the gray whale and the Hawaiian monk seal. Weakening this law would undermine years of conservation efforts and put these hard-won gains at risk. The MMPA is a cornerstone of our nation's commitment to preserving biodiversity and maintaining healthy marine ecosystems that the world shares. I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, you to uphold the integrity of this vital legislation and ensure that future generations can continue to marvel at the majesty of these incredible creatures. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of our oceans and marine life. Thank you.