A House Natural Resources Committee markup flew off the rails early and often as the panel voted to advance Republican legislation to overhaul the Endangered Species Act less than two months out from the November elections.
The committee met to vote on a slate of bills including Chair Bruce Westerman’s “ESA Amendments Act of 2024,” H.R. 9533, which would make changes to the ESA that Republicans have sought for decades but have never been able to pass.
The panel also advanced bills to roll back Bureau of Land Management decisions and a boating speed rule to protect the critically endangered right whale.
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Westerman’s ESA bill passed along party lines — 22-13 — over strong objections from Democrats.
