[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BONILLA-EDWARDS ESA MORATORIUM AMENDMENTS

                                 ______


                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 19, 1995

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, today, Congressman Chet Edwards and I are 
introducing the Endangered Species Act moratorium amendments. This 
bipartisan legislation will help put a stop to the current abuses of 
the Endangered Species Act [ESA]. In its current form the Endangered 
Species Act--though well intentioned--works contrary to, and often 
against, one particular species--the human being.
  Many hardworking ranchers, farmers, and homeowners in Texas have a 
greater fear of the golden cheeked warbler than they do of tax hikes 
and tornadoes. In my own hometown of San Antonio, TX, the entire source 
of water has been held hostage by Federal agencies and courts over a 
small fish called the fountain darter. This bill is an important first 
step to allay some of those fears and bring common sense to the ESA 
process. We in Congress must act and ensure that human beings no longer 
play second fiddle to spiders and snakes.
  Specifically, this legislation will suspend the further listing of 
endangered or threatened species and the designation of new critical 
habitat until the Endangered Species Act is reauthorized by Congress. 
The ESA's authorization expired in 1992. This bill is a realistic 
vehicle toward reforming the ESA. Passage of this bill compels Congress 
to consider human factors and bring balance to the ESA when it 
considers the reauthorization. ESA must be reconstructed with 
amendments which not only protect the environment, but respect property 
rights.
  Protecting property rights does not mean that threatened species 
cannot be protected. It simply means that human costs should be 
considered when the ESA is imposed. It also means that Government 
agencies, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service, should be creative in 
finding ways to balance these goals, rather than slamming the heavy 
fist of the Federal bureaucracy down on landowners. The Federal 
Government should work in concert with the true stewards of the land, 
instead of threatening them with fines without warning.
  Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. It is long 
since past the time that we brought sanity and common sense to the ESA 
process. This legislation will stop current abuses and make possible 
real reform of the ESA. Thank you.

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