As we head into the fall, the Michigan Legislature returns to work. We expect to see a flurry of activity in September and October, as the 2019-20 legislative session nears its end. We don’t expect many new bills to be introduced. We do hope that the efforts of AFA and other animal advocates will result in some of the bills we support getting a committee hearing, and moving along in the process.
All bets are off, however, after the election, when “Lame Duck” begins. Many of us remember the craziness of two years ago. This year brings the added uncertainty of conducting business virtually, and the many additional legislative concerns related to the pandemic.
ERRATA: The June and July Trackers mistakenly reported AFA’s position on three bills. With apologies, here are the positions taken by the board (which have been corrected in this month’s Tracker):
| H.R. 2245 | Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large (CECIL) Animal Trophies Act would restrict importation of sport-hunted species proposed for listing under ESA, tighten requirements that hunting be done for conservation, enhance transparency of permitting process; Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ) + 9 original co-sponsors AFA Position: Support |
| H.R. 4494 | Direct Interior Secretary to re-issue rule de-listing gray wolf from Endangered Species Act protection; Rep. Peterson (D-WI) + 6 original co-sponsors AFA Position: Oppose |
| H.R. 4804 | ProTECT Act amends Endangered Species Act to prohibit trophy hunting of endangered or threatened species within US and the importation of such trophies into the US; Rep. Jackson Lee (D-TX) + 2 original co-sponsors AFA Position: Support |
Below are the first pages of the Michigan and federal lists. View the full Tracker here.
