Sound Science Bills To Reform ESA In Congress Following Court Findings of "Junk Science"
by George Dupray
Occasionally, there comes a piece of legislation that looks and sounds just like it came directly from Grange policy. Over and over, we have said that Grangers are the soul and body of real conservation and protectors of the space in which we live, raise families, earn our living and feed the world. We have fought the good fight for rural America and continue to do so today. So, here comes something we can all stand behind and hopefully win a serious battle over those who would rather de-populate rural America.
Congressman Greg Waldon of Oregon has introduced House of Representatives (H. R.) Bill 2829 that speaks to the use of sound science over the current unproven, emotional, and capricious rule making procedure. Current practice in setting the rules destroys confidence and trust in our Constitutional protections. The title of the bill is the Sound Science for Endangered Species Act Planning Act of 2001. This is a five point plan of action that will, in the end, restore some of the trust in the effort to save some species.
. A companion bill has been introduced inthe Senate, S-1912. Authored by Smith of Oregon, has been given the title, Sound Science for Endangered Species Decisionmaking Act of 2002.
Language in the companion bill varies slightly from the House version, but the essential provisions calling for peer reviewed, sound science as well as data collected from landowners and information submitted by the public in response to public notification of the proposed listing.
The following chart is a side-by-side comparison of what the bill calls for as opposed to current practice. You are encouraged to write to your Congressman in support of this issue. And when you do, please tell them you are a Granger and proud of the fact that the Grange has worked so hard in getting this issue addressed.