WOW 101: The State of Wildlife

Chair Jared Huffman opening statement:

Welcome to the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife subcommittee 101 hearing on the state of wildlife. So far, we’ve talked about the state of our water supplies, the state of our oceans, and now it’s time to talk about wildlife.

Our topic today is especially fitting because it is National Wildlife Week. This week celebrates the anniversaries of several important events in the preservation of our nation’s wildlife, including the establishment of the first National Wildlife Refuge, Pelican Island, in 1903; the Duck Stamp Act of 1934; and the founding of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1940. For over a century, Americans have expected that their representatives work together to protect wildlife. And that’s because our experiences with nature and wildlife are fundamental to our cultures, our families, and our way of life. Maybe you go hunting or fishing with your family, maybe your kids watch the birdfeeder in the backyard, or maybe you’ve visited our national parks and wildlife refuges and seen all the wild beauty that our country has to offer. I, for one, get out as much as possible in my district to fish. There are few things better than a relaxing day spent fishing at a quiet spot on the North Coast of California.

I think it’s safe to say that we all want to protect native wildlife, both for the sake of wildlife itself and for us and future generations to enjoy. In fact, 4 out of 5 Americans support the Endangered Species Act and protecting species. We also share the goal of helping endangered wildlife around the globe, whether it is elephants, rhinos, tigers, polar bears, whales, or pandas.

Although we come from different states, with different landscapes and regional issues, the goal of today’s hearing is to get a clear and fact-based overview of the state of wildlife. Unfortunately, what I know so far, and what our expert witnesses will likely tell you, is that the state of many species in this country and across the globe is dire. In the history of the planet, there have been 5 major extinctions of life on Earth, including the time a meteor wiped out the dinosaurs. While you may not see a meteor falling from outer space or volcanoes filling the skies with ash right now, scientists have determined that we are in the middle of a sixth mass extinction.

And the truth is, it’s because of us. Human activity has destroyed all kinds of habitat, polluted our water and air, and is changing the climate in ways that many species of wildlife are struggling to keep up with. If we don’t do something about climate change, scientists predict that 1 in 6 species could face extinction.

However, it’s completely in our ability to solve these problems. There are several legislative proposals to protect wildlife that have been put forward by members of this Congress. We plan to hold legislative hearings soon to get many of these bills moving. We will also be conducting oversight of this administration, which we’ve seen place industry interests above those of the American people over and over again, including protecting wildlife and outdoor recreation.

Just last week, we held a hearing on the many threats facing one of the most endangered whales alive today, the North Atlantic right whale. Catering to oil and gas companies, the Trump administration has decided to increase the stressors facing this already imperiled species, even in the face of opposition from local communities and states.

The Endangered Species Act is another top target for the Trump administration. The administration is currently finalizing rules that would create loopholes in the law, putting more species at risk of extinction and giving more leeway to industry. We expect the administration to release the final rules any day now. The Trump administration is also undermining protections for wildlife in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the last remaining pristine habitats on Earth, by opening it up to oil and gas drilling. Over 700 species of plants and animals call the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge home, including polar bears, wolves, and the Porcupine caribou herd, which the Gwich’in people have relied on for time immemorial. I introduced the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act to restore protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and urge my colleagues to join over one hundred other Members of Congress in supporting the bill.

The Trump administration announced last year that “incidental take” under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act would no longer be interpreted as prohibiting the incidental killing of birds. And guess who benefits? You guessed it: oil and gas companies. Finally, the quality of key habitats that promote recreation, hunting, and fishing, as well as access to these habitats, are being eroded by the administration’s energy-dominance policy. As you can see, there is a clear pattern here. And unfortunately, the list goes far beyond these few instances I’ve described today. So this Congress, this committee has a lot of work to do – making sure we hold this administration accountable for decisions that further threaten wildlife and putting new, innovative ideas forward to address the sixth mass extinction. We’re going to hear from a great panel of wildlife experts today. Thank you all for being here. I now invite the Ranking Member for his remarks, and then we will welcome and introduce our witnesses.

Majority witnesses

  • Jamie Rappaport Clark, President and Chief, Executive Officer, Defenders of Wildlife
  • Dan Ashe, President and Chief Executive, Officer, Association of Zoos & Aquariums
  • Christy Plumer, Chief Conservation Officer, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Minority witnesses

  • Valerie Covey, Commissioner, Precinct Three, Williamson County Commissioner’s Court, Georgetown, TX
  • Rodger D. Huffman, President, Union County, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
House Natural Resources Committee
   Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee
1324 Longworth

03/12/2019 at 04:42PM

Examining the Threats to the North Atlantic Right Whale

Administration Witness

  • Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator, NOAA Fisheries

Majority Witnesses

  • Dr. Scott Kraus, Vice President and Senior Science Advisor, Chief Scientist, Marine Mammal Conservation, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium
  • Dr. Chris Clark, Senior Scientist, Research Professor, Cornell University

Minority Witness

  • Dr. H. Sterling Burnett, Senior Fellow and Managing Editor, Environment & Climate News, The Heartland Institute
House Natural Resources Committee
   Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee
1324 Longworth

03/07/2019 at 10:00AM

Rebuilding America: Small Business Perspective

The hearing will focus on our current infrastructure needs and how small businesses can stand to benefit from a comprehensive plan that includes surface, broadband, and water, among others. The hearing will give Members an opportunity to hear from a variety of witnesses regarding the importance of updating our nation’s infrastructure, while discussing the opportunities and challenges that exist for small businesses.

Witnesses

  • Terri Williams, Director, SBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  • Tim Donovan, Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs, Competitive Carriers Association, Washington, DC
  • Roseline Bougher, President, A.D. Marble, King of Prussia, PA, Testifying on behalf of the American Council of Engineering Companies
  • Kris Knochelmann, Judge Executive, President, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, Kenton County, KY
House Small Business Committee
2360 Rayburn

03/06/2019 at 11:00AM

Examining PFAS Chemicals and their Risks

The hearing will discuss GA O’s 2019 High Risk List and findings with respect to high-risk areas covered by the report. The hearing will address high-risk areas that were added to or removed from the list this year, areas that GAO identifies as needing significant attention, and other high-risk areas.

Witnesses

  • Brian K. Fitzpatrick, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
  • Daniel T. Kildee, Member of Congress, Washington D.C.
  • Dave Ross, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Maureen Sullivan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment, U.S. Department of Defense
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
   Environment Subcommittee
2154 Rayburn

03/06/2019 at 10:00AM

Our Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure And The Need For Immediate Action

Witnesses:

Panel 1:

  • Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Rep. Sam Graves, Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Panel 2:

  • Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
  • Thomas Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Gregory E. DiLoreto, P.E., 2013 ASCE Past-President, Chair of the Committee for America’s Infrastructure
  • Chris Spear, President and CEO, American Trucking Associations
  • Marc Scribner, Senior Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute
House Ways and Means Committee
1100 Longworth

03/06/2019 at 10:00AM

Transforming Climate Anxiety to Action

Are you worried about the climate crisis and don’t know where to begin to take action? A good place to start is your workplace. Companies wield enormous influence and they have an important role to play in reducing emissions and advocating for climate policy. When employees speak, companies act!

According to Kite Insights, 8 out of 10 employees say they are ready and willing to take action on climate change in their jobs, but fewer than half feel “very” or “quite able” to do so. In this workshop you will hear directly from employee advocates about their climate journeys. Arielle Terry, Digby Hall, and Drew Wilkinson will share their insights and experiences driving organizational change. Join ClimateVoice and Work for Climate for a dynamic conversation about how employees can speak up to raise the bar on corporate climate advocacy.

Moderators:

  • Deborah McNamara, Co-Executive Director of ClimateVoice
  • Lucy Piper, Director at WorkforClimate

Employee Speakers:

  • Digby Hall – Founding Director of Climatewise Design
  • Arielle Terry – Manager, Lending Solutions at ATMOS Financial
  • Drew Wilkinson – Founder and Consultant, Climate Leadership Collective

Arielle Terry is a climate finance evangelist, advocating for divesting money from fossil fuels and promoting workplace activism. She works at Atmos Financial, a climate fintech that is working to rapidly shift capital towards a clean economy for all.

Drew Wilkinson is a climate activist, community organizer, and co-founder of Microsoft’s 10k member employee sustainability community. He works for Planet Earth but provides consulting services for employee engagement, helping organization’s make sustainability part of everybody’s job.

ClimateVoice
WorkforClimate
03/05/2019 at 09:00PM

Clean Energy Infrastructure and the Workforce to Build It

The Energy Subcommittee will hold a legislative hearing on the Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019, on Wednesday, February 27, at 10:30 am in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

House Energy and Commerce Committee
   Energy Subcommittee
2322 Rayburn

02/27/2019 at 10:30AM