Done...but I had to set the facts straight first. Feel free to copy and paste my appropriate reply:
I write to express my concerns with H.R. 509 and S.249, the American Big Game and Livestock Protection Act. These bills have nothing to do with the current issue with Gray wolf populations in the United States.
The states of Montana and Idaho have fulfilled their commitments to recover wolf populations. However, Wyoming has failed to do so under both the EIS and also the Wolf Recovery Plan. Wolf populations now far exceed long established and agreed upon recovery criteria, with the exception of Wyoming having an acceptable plan. Excessive wolf densities combined with severe winters, poor management plans, and the commericialization of public wildlife are having significant impacts. Notwithstanding these facts, the commitments to delist by the federal government pursuant to national wolf restoration plans have not been fulfilled by the State of Wyoming, as mentioned above. Wasteful litigation by the State of Wyoming exploiting technicalities under the ESA have stopped all efforts by the Bush and Obama Administrations to delist wolf populations. This abuse by Wyoming should not be used to impede the usefulness of the ESA under these acts.
H.R. 509 and S.249 will not fulfill these commitments to return America's wolf populations to state wildlife protections. The hundreds of millions of dollars of annual damage resulting from unmanaged wolf populations is now being borne by family ranchers, small businesses and economies of the West and Midwest, but the reality is that the State of Wyoming is responsible for this.
This legislation is supported by a growing number of sponsors in Congress, at least 32 state fish and wildlife agencies and by state and national wildlife groups, including Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Big Game Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, National Rifle Association, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, American Farm Bureau, National Cattleman's Beef Association, American Sheep Industry Association and the Public Lands Council.
Just because this legislation is being supported by the 32 groups listed above, as well as uninformed members of congress, doesnt mean that the legislation is appropriate, warranted, and needed. Frankly, it is not.
I strongly urge you to vote against the bill, read the wolf recovery plan, the EIS, and recognize the real issue here. There is already legislation as well as a functioning mechanism in place to address the wolf issue. Wyoming is legally obligated to have an accepted plan. Wyomings compliance with the requirement of an accepted plan will accomplish delisting and give wolf management to each state. No meaningless, costly or additional legislation is required, simply compliance by Wyoming.
With the economic, as well as domestic and foreign policy issues that are facing the United States, I find it inappropriate for congress to support bills that further complicate the wolf issue. In particular when this legislation is not needed.
