Groundbreaking Incentive program draws support from nearly 100 groups
Washington, DC - A groundbreaking approach to species recovery where private landowners are key to the recovery process is the centerpiece of legislation introduced today by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and 16 other co-sponsors. The bipartisan Endangered Species Recovery Act (ESRA) ensures taxpayers are eligible for tax credits if they own habitat or incur costs to recover species and are a party to a qualifying agreement. The consensus-driven legislation (S. 700) has the support of close to 100 property rights, environmental, resource, and hunting and fishing groups.Crapo's ESRA bill will be sent to the Senate Finance Committee, of which Crapo is a member. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Montana) is an original co-sponsor of Crapo's bill, as is Ranking Member Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada). Other original co-sponsors include Senators Wayne Allard (R-Colorado), Bob Bennett (R-Utah), Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Larry Craig (R- Idaho), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming), Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut), Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas), Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Ken Salazar (D-Colorado) and Gordon Smith (R-Oregon)."The Endangered Species Recovery Act is a breakthrough in species recovery because everyone agrees on the priority of recovering species and need for landowner involvement," Crapo said. "Over 80 percent of endangered species live on private property, and it makes sense to offer incentives to property owners to recovery species. A General Accounting Office study that many Senators, including myself, requested last year made it clear the top effort to improving species recovery should be the voluntary involvement of landowners. This measure will proceed with the strong support of more than 100 resource, private property, and agricultural organizations."A satellite feed and radio actualities are available from today's ESRA news conference:1:45â??2:00 p.m. Mountain Time / 12:45â??1:00 p.m. Pacific TimeC Band, AMC-1, Transponder 23 Horizontal, Downlink 4160, Standard AudioFOR INTERESTED MEDIA: A radio actuality is available by calling 1-800-545-1267. Press 327 at any time during or after the greeting and instructions. You can also access the actuality through the Internet at http://src.senate.gov in the Radio Links.To directly link to this news release, please use the following address: http://crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=269809 # # #