The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on four bills to modify the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but partisan sparring demonstrated that neither bill stands much chance of enactment. While conceding that some reform is needed, some committee members criticized the bills for going too far in their requirement that all science data used to list a species be made public, that data provided by government agencies and Indian tribes be included, and that litigation costs be made public and attorney’s fees limited. While the bills might eventually pass the House, no action is expected in the Senate.
