To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to expand the exemption process under section 7 of that Act with respect to national security and significant adverse national or regional economic impacts.
Sponsored By: Representative Gray
Introduced
Summary
Creates a new exemption path in Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act that would allow national security or significant national or regional economic harms to justify exempting agency actions that affect listed species. Federal agencies, the state Governor where an action occurs, or permit or license applicants could request those exemptions after consultation.
Show full summary
- Federal agencies and permit or license applicants would be able to file exemption requests after consultation, giving them a formal route to argue that required changes would impair national security or cause significant adverse economic impacts.
- State governors where an agency action occurs could also apply for exemptions, adding a direct role for state executives in seeking waivers.
- The Secretary would do an initial review but final decisions would go to a Committee and must include analyses from the National Security Council and the National Economic Council describing any national security or significant adverse national or regional economic impacts of proposed modifications or alternatives.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Broader Endangered Species Act exemptions
This bill would broaden who can ask for an exemption from Endangered Species Act rules. A federal agency, the state’s governor, or a permit or license applicant could apply after the required consultation. They could apply if the action would likely violate the Act. They could also apply if the needed fix may impair national security or cause significant adverse national or regional economic impacts. For those claims, the Secretary would consult the National Security Council and the National Economic Council and include their analyses. A federal committee would make the final decision after a report. Before any exemption, the parties must have consulted in good faith, completed any needed biological assessment, and avoided irreversible resource commitments. If enacted, this could help some projects and jobs move ahead, but could also reduce or delay species protections.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gray
CA • D
Cosponsors
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov