The ultimate vote was 228–200, with a robust bipartisan majority rejecting this harmful assault on the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
It is a big win for wildlife. Had it handed, H.R. 65 would have:
- Exempted the complete Division of Protection and its many contractors from the ESA.
- Banned ESA protections on navy lands—essential protected havens for species just like the Florida panther, California condor, and purple wolf.
- Eradicated accountability, permitting navy actions to hurt or kill endangered species with out oversight.
Consultant Biggs of Arizona, the invoice’s sponsor, tried so as to add H.R. 65 as a coverage rider on the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (H.R. 3838), an necessary legislative bundle that Congress develops yearly.
As an alternative, the Home rejected this proposal and stood up for science, accountability, and wildlife safety.
In 2025 alone, tens of 1000’s of individuals have emailed and referred to as their Representatives in assist of the ESA and in opposition to assaults like H.R. 65. The Endangered Species Coalition and our companions took this message on to Capitol Hill with a letter of opposition. This victory exhibits that after we interact, educate, and mobilize, we are able to construct bipartisan backing for the ESA.
This win belongs to all of us who spoke up, contacted our Representatives, and reminded Congress that the Endangered Species Act works—saving 99% of listed species from extinction.
We rejoice at present, however the combat isn’t over. Opponents of the ESA will hold attempting to chip away at it. Collectively, we’ll hold constructing energy, rising bipartisan assist, and guaranteeing that wildlife—from the mightiest condor to the rarest purple wolf—has a future.
