Press Releases

Today, Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that there are no changes to the gray wolf’s listing status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
 
“Today’s decision by the Fish and Wildlife Service is disappointing and contrary to sound science,” said Chairman Newhouse. “It is clear that gray wolf populations have recovered and that state and local officials should be empowered to manage their gray wolf populations. As Chairman of the Western Caucus and Co-Chair of the ESA Working Group, I will continue to advocate for greater flexibility to manage the wolves and for reforming the ESA to make the law work better for rural communities and species alike.”
 
In July 2023, Chairman Newhouse and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) founded the ESA Working Group to examine how the law is being implemented by federal agencies, the practical impacts on the American people, how litigation is driving ESA decision making, and how success is defined under the ESA. The goal of the Working Group will be to publish a series of policy recommendations that reform the ESA to the benefit of the American people and species conservation.