December 28, 2023 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced a resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), reaffirming the role this legislation has played in safeguarding global biodiversity. The resolution not only commemorates the invaluable achievements of the ESA over the last five decades, but also underscores the unprecedented threat of the current global extinction crisis and therefore the continued importance of protecting the ESA. 

Enacted in 1973, the Endangered Species Act has been a cornerstone of environmental protection efforts, responsible for rescuing 99 percent of wildlife under its shield from the brink of extinction. Now, 50 years later, our world’s wildlife is again at a critical juncture. As a result of human impacts on the environment, we are facing a global mass extinction crisis on par with the events that drove dinosaurs to extinction 65 million years ago. Species today are going extinct thousands of times faster than natural extinction rates, with scientists estimating more than one in six species are at risk of extinction within our lifetime.

“From the iconic humpback whale to the majestic grizzly bear and the emblematic bald eagle, the ESA has been instrumental in preserving diverse ecosystems and ensuring the survival of numerous species,” said Senator Booker. “As our planet confronts a biodiversity crisis of monumental proportions, we must reinforce legislative efforts to preserve wildlife and counter partisan attacks that threaten the safety of our country’s rich ecosystem.”

The resolution notes the Endangered Species Act is one of the most successful conservation laws ever enacted by any country, with four out of five U.S. citizens in favor of it. With nearly half of all ecosystems in the United States at risk of total collapse, expanding protections for endangered species is crucial to saving our nation’s treasures. Last month, Co-Chairs of the Endangered Species Act Caucus, Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ-07) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), introduced the resolution in the House.

Senator Booker has been a champion of endangered species and of the Endangered Species Act, and recently received an award at the ESA@50 celebration at the Library of Congress.

The full text of the resolution can be found here. 
Source: Senator Cory Booker