Dear Senator,
As your constituent and a supporter of Defenders of Wildlife, I am writing to let you know about a reckless endangered species bill recently passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate. Rep. Richard Pombo's misleadingly titled "Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005" (H.R. 3824), or any similar legislation, should be vigorously opposed.
[Your personal comments here]
I am seriously concerned about the bill's effect on the Endangered Species Act. The Act has been wildly successful in preventing the extinction of many magnificent creatures, including grizzly bears, wolves, manatees, sea otters and the bald eagle. Since 1973 only nine out of the 1,800 animals protected by the Act have gone extinct.
I am concerned that this bill could actually lead to more wildlife extinctions and undermine our national commitment to protecting endangered plants and animals by sharply diminishing habitat protections, allowing federal agencies to ignore their responsibility to protect endangered species, weakening the role of science in decisions that affect endangered species and making taxpayers pay developers to comply with the law.
I sincerely hope you will vigorously oppose any effort by the Senate to approve H.R. 3824 or any other legislation that would undermine the Endangered Species Act.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]