Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, expressed his support for updates to the Endangered Species Act of 2025.
"Farmers and ranchers play an important role in conservation," said Kieffer, according to House Committee on Natural Resources. "They have long called for a modernized ESA which encourages voluntary programs that focus on species recovery and respects landowners as partners in conservation. We appreciate Chairman Westerman's work on the Endangered Species Act of 2025. Endangered Species Act of 2025 accommodates both endangered and threatened species protection and human needs."
The Endangered Species Act, originally established in 1973, is set to undergo changes with the proposed Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. These amendments aim to clarify definitions, expedite permitting processes, promote species recovery, increase agency accountability, and reduce litigation.
According to a press release from Rep. Bruce Westerman, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, the Endangered Species Act has not met its intended goals and has been hindered by environmental litigation over several decades. Westerman said that the proposed reforms are designed to enhance the law's effectiveness in supporting wildlife conservation.
In a June 2024 interview with Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, Kieffer discussed Sen. John Boozman’s Farm Bill proposal. When asked about achieving bipartisan agreement in the Senate, he remarked, "At this point, all the chess pieces are on the board."
During the same interview with Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, Kieffer emphasized the need for committee members to engage in discussions and negotiations and to schedule a markup session. He added that disagreements primarily concern funding sources but expressed optimism that both sides could find common ground through negotiation.
