It's déjà vu all over again. In a last-minute fast track of oil drilling, mining, logging, and development, the Bush administration has proposed regulations that greatly undermine the Endangered Species Act and severely weaken protections for endangered wildlife and habitat.

Species, smecies, they say. Endangered Species Act: Who Needs Laws?

The ESA is the safety net for our country's fish, plants, and wildlife on the brink of extinction. It has protected hundreds of endangered plants and animals, including grizzly bears, bald eagles, and runs of Pacific salmon. Weakening it harms our Northwest wildlife heritage, from spotted owl to gray wolf. This act passed by the will of the people is the best protection we have for animals in the world. Proposed new rules would exempt thousands of federal activities from review under the act; eliminate the checks and balances of independent oversight by the public; and prevent consideration of a project's contribution to climate change, which affects all life on our planet. 

Call in for wildlife! Especially on Tuesday, September 23, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Member of Congress. Let them know you support the Endangered Species Act, and you believe fiercely in protecting our wildlife heritage.

And, what the heck, send a letter as well. The animals will thank you, if no one else does!