The Pet and Livestock Protection Act (PALPA), introduced by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and Congressman Tom Tiffany, has passed through the House Natural Resources Committee. The committee voted 24-17 to advance the bill to the House floor. This legislation aims to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List, allowing states to manage their own gray wolf populations.
Congresswoman Boebert expressed her enthusiasm for the bill's progress, stating, "I'm very excited to see PALPA take another step towards being signed into law, which will be a huge victory for our ranchers, farmers, and landowners in Colorado and across America." She emphasized that gray wolves are fully recovered and that states should set their own guidelines.
Congressman Tiffany highlighted the impact of unmanaged wolf populations on pets, livestock, and wildlife. He noted that Wisconsin has over 1,000 wolves thriving and said, "It’s time to take the next step, delist them, and let the people closest to the gray wolf manage their population levels."
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman supported the act by saying it allows states to manage species they know best. Bonnie Eddy from the Colorado Wool Growers Association also endorsed it, citing flexibility for managing wolves that threaten livestock.
Keith Mark of Hunter Nation praised the committee's decision and said that preventing judicial review would stop anti-hunting groups from interfering with conservation efforts. Mike Clark of the Colorado Conservation Alliance mentioned economic concerns related to energy production if wolves remain listed.
The bill requires reissuing a 2020 rule that delisted gray wolves in most of the U.S., preventing judicial overturns like one by a California judge in 2022. It has garnered support from various stakeholders including agricultural associations and hunting organizations.
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