H.R.1897

H. R. 1897

March 6, 2025

Mr. Westerman (for himself, Ms. Hageman, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Hurd of Colorado, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Bentz, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Begich, Mr. Ezell, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Mr. Hunt, Ms. Maloy, Mr. Biggs of Arizona, and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to optimize conservation through resource prioritization, incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands, provide for greater incentives to recover listed species, create greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species, streamline the permitting process, eliminate barriers to conservation, and restore congressional intent.

1. Short title; table of contents; 2. Endangered Species Act of 1973 definitions; 3. Authorization of appropriations; 4. Rule of construction; TITLE I—OPTIMIZING CONSERVATION THROUGH RESOURCE PRIORITIZATION; 101. Prioritization of listing petitions, reviews, and determinations; TITLE II—INCENTIVIZING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ON PRIVATE LANDS; 201. Candidate conservation agreements with assurances; 202. Conservation plans; 203. NEPA exemption for incidental take permits; TITLE III—PROVIDING FOR GREATER INCENTIVES TO RECOVER LISTED SPECIES; 301. Protective regulations under Endangered Species Act of 1973; 302. 5-year review determinations; 303. Judicial review during monitoring period; 304. Codification of regulation; 305. Designation of critical habitat; TITLE IV—CREATING GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN RECOVERING LISTED SPECIES; 401. Requirement to publish basis for listings and critical habitat designations on Internet; 402. Decisional transparency and use of State, Tribal, and local information; 403. Disclosure of expenditures under Endangered Species Act of 1973; 404. Award of litigation costs to prevailing parties in accordance with existing law; 405. Analysis of impacts and benefits of determination of endangered or threatened status; TITLE V—STREAMLINING PERMITTING PROCESS; 501. Limitation on reasonable and prudent measures; 502. Successive consultations; 503. Requirement to consider reasonably certain effects; 504. Clarifying jeopardy; TITLE VI — ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO CONSERVATION; 601. Permits for CITES-listed species; 602. Utilize Convention standard for permits applicable to non-native species; TITLE VII—RESTORING CONGRESSIONAL INTENT; 701. Limiting agency regulations