Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

Congressman Mica, how do you feel about the environment?

It is important to protect the environment for current and future generations. As a U.S. Representative, I have continued to take an active role in environmental policy to ensure that our decisions are based on sound science, the best interests of our environment and citizens.

The federal government must do a better job of working with States, industries and people at the local level to protect America's natural resources. Only together can we successfully preserve the environment for our children, and their children.

Preserving and protecting our environment is also an individual and local responsibility. For more information on my activities to help preserve our natural resources, please be sure to visit my Environment and Natural Resource Activities webpage.

Congressman Mica, how do you feel about the Endangered Species Act?

Improving the Endangered Species Act is one of the most important issues facing Congress. Since the law was first enacted in 1973, over 1,200 animals and plants have been placed on the endangered or threatened list, but only 31 have been taken off: 10 because of data errors, 7 because of extinction and only 14 because of recovery! A complete list of endangered species is available from the US Fish and Wildlife Agency. While doing little to help species recover, the present law has imposed disproportionate costs on our economy and has often resulted in the social upheaval of our communities. After two decades of limited progress, I believe it is time for a new and hopefully more effective approach.

Unfortunately, while failing to adequately protect species, the current Endangered Species Act has also completely ignored private property rights and has resulted in countless lawsuits and litigation. Private property owners today are discouraged from participating in species preservation efforts because of the possibility of lost property value, heavy fines and penalties. In order to effectively protect endangered animals the federal government should be a partner with state and local officials. In addition, with over 90% of species habitats on non-federal lands, private landowners must be encouraged to protect this habitat through incentives, not federal disincentives.

We should be providing landowner incentives, habitat conservation grants, compensation, acquisition and exchange of land, and better utilization of federally owned land for habitat. These types of activities will enable us to have a more effective program for ensuring that endangered species are protected and able to be reconstituted.

I welcome you to view the work I have done to protect animals in the 7th Congressional District and throughout Florida.

Source