[Senate Document 118-7]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - Senate Document-118-7
118-7
 
                           VETO--S.J. RES. 24

                                (PM 23)

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                               returning

    WITHOUT MY APPROVAL S.J. RES. 24, A JOINT RESOLUTION THAT WOULD 
DISAPPROVE THE FINAL RULE ENTITLED ``ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE 
  AND PLANTS; ENDANGERED SPECIES STATUS FOR NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT''




               September 26, 2023.--Ordered to be printed
To the Senate of the United States:
    I am returning herewith without my approval S.J. Res. 24, a 
joint resolution that would disapprove the final rule entitled 
``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered 
Species Status for Northern Long-Eared Bat.''
    The final rule, issued by the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS), provides Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
protections to the northern long-eared bat, whose populations 
have been heavily impacted by white-nose syndrome. The northern 
long-eared bat now faces extinction due to white-nose syndrome, 
a deadly disease that has spread across approximately 79 
percent of the northern long-eared bat's entire range and is 
expected to affect 100 percent of the species' range by the end 
of the decade. Data indicate white-nose syndrome has caused 
estimated declines of 97 to 100 percent in affected northern 
long-eared bat populations. Following a rigorous review of the 
best available scientific and commercial information regarding 
the past, present, and future threats, as well as ongoing 
conservation efforts, the USFWS listed the northern long-eared 
bat as an endangered species under the ESA.
    S.J. Res. 24 would overturn a science-based rulemaking that 
follows the requirements of the law, and thereby undermines the 
ESA. Bats are critical to healthy, functioning ecosystems and 
contribute at least $3 billion annually to the United States 
agriculture economy through pest control and pollination. If 
enacted, S.J. Res. 24 would undermine America's proud wildlife 
conservation traditions and risk extinction of the species.
    Therefore, I am vetoing this resolution.

                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
    The White House September 26, 2023.