[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. TESTER (for himself and Mr. Barrasso):
  S. 2875. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
grants to designated States and tribes to carry out programs to reduce 
the risk of livestock loss due to predation by gray wolves and other 
predator species or to compensate landowners for livestock loss due to 
predation; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the Gray Wolf 
Livestock Loss Mitigation Act, which Senator Barrasso and I are 
introducing today.
  This program is a key step now that wolves will be delisted in 
Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. The bill will help reduce livestock losses 
due to wolves and help our ranchers who bear the financial burden of 
losses due to wolves.
  On March 28, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the gray 
wolves in the northern Rockies from the endangered species list. Wolves 
have, over the last few years, experienced a remarkable recovery in the 
northern Rockies. They, in fact, have exceeded their population goals 
put in place when they were reintroduced.
  I applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for their decision to turn 
the management over to the States, such as Montana, because Montana is 
ready.
  Each State in our region has developed its own management plan that 
will treat wolves like other wildlife and keep their numbers at 
approved levels.
  Today, tourists come to Yellowstone to see wolves. They are a symbol 
of the wildness of our region. But wolves also need to eat, and they 
kill animals in the process--some wild, some domestic. In the case of 
the domestic livestock, such as cattle and sheep, that costs producers 
time and money and reduces profitability.
  Our States are taking action by initiating new programs that will try 
to prevent wolf kills by improved fencing, grazing practices, using 
guard dogs, and other means. They will also be compensating producers 
for the losses due to wolves.
  Yesterday, Montana's program began accepting claims. Since the 
Federal Government reintroduced wolves to the northern Rockies, it only 
makes sense for the Fish and Wildlife Service to assist States in 
managing wolves even after the delisting.
  Today, Senator Barrasso and I are introducing the Gray Wolf Livestock 
Loss Mitigation Act to provide the assistance States need in managing 
wolves in the future.
  This program strikes the balance the public demands. It accepts the 
presence of wolves, but it also supports our livestock industry which 
is affected by that reintroduction of the wolves.
  If wolves are a public asset deserving of reintroduction, the Federal 
Government ought to be a player at the table to mitigate their costs.
  I encourage my colleagues to take a look at this issue--it is an 
important one--particularly those colleagues from the Great Lakes 
region and the Southwest who face similar problems.

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