Newhouse among 20 GOP cosponsors of Trust the Science Act

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) says that more recent scientific data is proof that the gray wolf should be removed from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

“Gray wolves have been successfully recovered — thanks to effective state and local species management plans,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Instead of pandering to interest groups with political agendas, we should trust the best available science, which deems the gray wolf an Endangered Species Act success story.”

Rep. Newhouse is among 20 GOP original cosponsors of the Trust the Science Act, H.R. 7766, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and would require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, according to the text of the bill.

Specifically, H.R. 7766 would require the U.S. Department of the Interior to reissue the 2020 final rule that used the best available science to delist the gray wolf from the list of endangered species in the lower 48 states and ensure that the reissuance of the final rule would not be subject to judicial review, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Newhouse’s office.

“I’m proud to support science-based listing decisions that benefit species and local communities,” he said. 

Among the original cosponsors who joined Rep. Newhouse in signing on to the bill are U.S. Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN), Brian Steil (R-WI), John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Tom Emmer (R-MN).

Numerous groups also support H.R. 7766, such as the National Rifle Association, the Alaska Farm Bureau Federation, BigGame Forever, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, the Mid States Wool Growers Association, the Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association, and the Safari Club International, among many others.

H.R. 7766 is also endorsed by all Republican members on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, which is now considering the bill.