Washington, DC - The original author of the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA), Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following comments on President Obama’s decision to instruct federal agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service before beginning work on agency projects.  President Obama’s decision begins the process of reversing an 11th hour attempt by the Bush Administration to overhaul the ESA. The Bush change eliminated independent scientific reviews required for more than three decades.

“I applaud President Obama’s action today to restore the integrity of the Endangered Species Act.  When I wrote this legislation in 1973 and it was passed into law, it was one of the proudest moments of my career.  When the Bush Administration, in the final days of their White House tenure, attempted to dismantle the law, I was dismayed and called on the Bush Administration to halt their damaging rulemaking which stripped the law of an important requirement for federal agencies to consult with scientific experts on projects they undertake.  Today’s actions by President Obama put us on the right track to a proper policy that will protect our natural heritage while also preserving our economy – a delicate balance that I tried hard to strike in the bill.  It has worked; more than two dozen species of plant and wildlife have been saved by the ESA, including the Bald Eagle and the Gray Wolf, making our world a better and richer place to inhabit.  And we have done so without jeopardizing jobs or our economy.  I stand ready to work with President Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to ensure that the ESA is a strong law that all Americans can be proud of in the future.”