Good News: US House Rejects "Extinction Rider"

Yesterday, on a vote of 224-202 the U.S House of Representatives rejected the "extinction rider," which would have prohibited species listings and habitat conservation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Thirty-seven House Republicans broke rank and rejected the "extinction rider," while two Democrats supported it.

Specifically, the "extinction rider" would have defunded the US Fish & Wildlife Service's ESA program, preventing the agency from listing species as threatened or endangered or designating critical habitat under the ESA.  Defeating the "extinction rider" is good news for America's most vulnerable species and their habitat, which otherwise face a tough political climate.