Pet and Livestock Protection Act
Summary
The Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845) directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule from November 3, 2020, removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This reissuance must occur within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The Act also stipulates that the reissuance of this rule will not be subject to judicial review.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this Act is the delisting of the gray wolf, transferring management authority from the federal government to state and local entities. This could lead to changes in wolf population management strategies. The preclusion of judicial review limits the ability of interested parties to challenge the delisting in court.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction in livestock losses for farmers and ranchers.
- Increased flexibility for state wildlife management agencies.
- Possible economic benefits from hunting and trapping of wolves.
- Reduced regulatory burden on landowners.
- Addresses concerns of rural communities regarding wolf populations.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential decline in gray wolf populations due to less stringent protections.
- Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem impacts.
- Increased conflict between wolves and humans.
- Reduced opportunities for scientific research and monitoring of wolf populations.
- Concerns from environmental and conservation groups.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the enumerated powers of Congress under Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to regulate wildlife and property. However, the limitation on judicial review in Section 3 raises questions regarding due process and the role of the judiciary as outlined in Article III of the Constitution. The balance between legislative authority and judicial oversight is a key consideration.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).