Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on four bills, including reforms to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and codifying the Gulf of America. Subcommittee Chair Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) issued the following statement in response:

"I’m eager to advocate for the ESA Amendments Act which introduces critical reforms to an outdated law, empowering state and local officials to manage wildlife effectively. We should reward successful species management, and the gray wolf’s recovery highlights those conservation achievements, which the Pet and Livestock Protection Act acknowledges by delisting the gray wolf to protect ranchers, their livestock, and rural communities. Additionally, the Gulf of America Act codifies President Trump’s executive orders into law by renaming the former Gulf of Mexico. President Trump is working tirelessly to enact the will of the American people, and it’s Congress’s responsibility to formalize those executive actions into legislation."

Background

H.R. 276, the Gulf of America Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), renames the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), removes the gray wolf from the endangered species list, returning the species to state management and providing greater ability to resolve wolf conflicts.  

H.R. 1897, the ESA Amendments Act of 2025, introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), makes critical reforms to the ESA to focus on species recovery and streamline the permitting process under the ESA. This legislation will also support the efforts of private landowners and states when working with the federal government to improve species recovery.

H.R. 1917, the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), will create the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program, a new program that would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase fish tags and other related equipment to improve fisheries management decisions.

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