WASHINGTON, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced a proposed rule to federally delist the gray wolf in the lower 48 states.

“I regularly hear from people who’ve seen wolves around their property and who cannot defend themselves without risking a felony,” said Cathy. “As the Obama administration made clear in 2013, the gray wolf is recovered, and now it’s time for us to delist it and return decision-making to the state and community level. I fully support the Trump administration’s announcement of a proposed rule to make that happen.”

NOTE: In 2013, President Obama’s Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe stated, “[the gray wolf] is no longer endangered or threatened with extinction…As we propose to remove ESA protections, states like Washington and Oregon are managing expanding populations under protective state laws.”

In 2018, Cathy voted in support of the Manage our Wolves Act, legislation to delist the wolves and restore decision-making to the state level.

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