Zinke Amendment to Delist Grizzlies Around Yellowstone Advances to House Floor

 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee approved by a voice vote Congressman Ryan Zinke’s amendment to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) Grizzly from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and return to the 2017 Department of the Interior rule. The amendment was added to the FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill and will advance to a vote on the House Floor in September.  

In February, Rep. Zinke and Congresswoman Harriet Hagemann (R-WY) introduced the Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2023. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Steve Daines (MT) and both of Idaho’s Senators. The bill requires the DOI to reinstate the 2017 final rule removing grizzlies in the GYE from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 180 days of enactment. The 2017 rule was issued by then-Secretary Ryan Zinke.

In February, Zinke said, “Instead of moving the goal line, we should be celebrating the win – the Endangered Species Act worked for grizzly bears in the GYE. As a Congressman, I am demanding the same thing I did as Secretary - If we are managing based on science, there must be an offramp for wildlife on the list once their goal is reached. Montana and Wyoming share more than a border, we share wildlife, ecosystems, and the shared responsibility to manage it properly. Congresswoman Hageman is a champion for wildlife management, and I am excited to work closely with her and members in both chambers on this critical piece to ensure they make the right choice for Montana.”

In addition to the delisting grizzly bears amendment, Zinke was able to secure more than a dozen policy victories for Montana in the Interior appropriations bill, to include: 

• Restricted funds for Glacier Park’s vehicle reservation system.
• Ending sue, settle, and seal.
• Restricting funds for WOTUS.
• Full funding for Payment in Liu of Taxes (PILT)
• Defunded DOI’s Interagency Bison Working Group.
• Blocked the introduction of Bison on the CMR Wildlife refuge.
• Blocked the Biden Administration’s ban on lead ammunition and Tackle on wildlife refuges.
• Defunded EPA rules that would result in the early shutdown of Colstrip and raise energy costs for Montanans.
• Increased funding for Wildland firefighters.
• Cut spending without putting the burden on tribes.
• Prohibited funds for listing gray wolves on the ESA. 

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