What This Bill Does
This bill changes the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prevent the federal government from protecting nonnative species (species not naturally found in an area) under endangered or threatened status. The bill is titled the "Saving America's Vulnerable and Endangered Species Act" or "SAVES Act."
Who It Affects
The Secretary (the head of the federal agency responsible for enforcing the Endangered Species Act) is directly affected by this bill. The bill may also affect nonnative species that could have been protected under current law.
Key Provisions
• The Secretary cannot list any living nonnative species as a threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (Sec. 2).
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the Endangered Species Act will include a new section 19 that prevents the Secretary from protecting nonnative species. The table of contents for the Endangered Species Act will be updated to include this new section.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 771
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to include a prohibition
on the listing of a living nonnative species as a threatened species
or an endangered species, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 9, 2023
Mr. CRUZ introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works
A BILL
To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to include
a prohibition on the listing of a living nonnative species
as a threatened species or an endangered species, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Saving America’s Vul-
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nerable and Endangered Species Act’’ or the ‘‘SAVES
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Act’’.
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•S 771 IS
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON LISTING OF LIVING NONNATIVE
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SPECIES AS THREATENED SPECIES OR EN-
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DANGERED SPECIES.
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(a) LIMITATION.—The Endangered Species Act of
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1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) is amended by adding at
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the end the following:
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‘‘SEC. 19. PROHIBITION ON LISTING OF LIVING NONNATIVE
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SPECIES AS THREATENED SPECIES OR EN-
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DANGERED SPECIES.
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‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
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retary shall not list under section 4(c) any living nonnative
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species.’’.
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
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tents for the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
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prec. 1531) is amended by inserting after the item relating
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to section 17 the following:
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‘‘Sec. 18. Annual cost analysis by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
‘‘Sec. 19. Prohibition on listing of living nonnative species as threatened species
or endangered species.’’.
Æ
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