Short Takes

Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology have elected Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) to be the next chair of the Energy Subcommittee. She replaces Representative Conor Lamb (D-PA), who joined the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in November 2019. Fletcher previously served as the chair of the Environment Subcommittee, which will now be led by Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ). Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) will now chair the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has launched a 5-year status review of the grizzly bear under the Endangered Species Act to determine if the species' protected status needs to be revised. The grizzly bear was first listed as a threatened species in the Lower 48 states in 1975. The agency is soliciting any new information on the species that has become available since its last review in 2011. The 60-day public comment period ends on March 16, 2020. More information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-01-14/html/2020-00401.htm. The House Committee on Natural Resources has approved legislation that would clarify regulatory protections for migratory birds. If enacted, the Migratory Bird Protection Act (H.R. 5552), would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 to ensure that the "prohibition on the unauthorized take or killing of migratory birds includes incidental take by commercial activities." "Take" is defined by USFWS as "to pursue, hunt, sh...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news