Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/180
Last Updated: July 28, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

ID: M001177

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held

July 22, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and expose the underlying disease.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025 (HR 180) claims to promote transparency and accountability in the listing process under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). But, as with most congressional bills, the real purpose is to serve special interests while masquerading as a champion of good governance.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish online the scientific and commercial data used in listing decisions. Sounds reasonable? Think again. This provision is designed to create a bureaucratic hurdle, allowing states and other stakeholders to delay or block listings by claiming that certain information is proprietary or sensitive.

Other provisions include:

* Allowing states to opt-out of disclosing certain information if it's prohibited by state law (read: giving states an excuse to hide data) * Requiring the Secretary to execute an agreement with the Secretary of Defense to prevent disclosure of classified information (because, you know, national security trumps environmental protection) * Mandating that the Secretary disclose expenditures related to ESA lawsuits (a clever way to intimidate and silence environmental groups)

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:

* Environmental organizations: Will face increased scrutiny and bureaucratic hurdles when trying to list species * States: Will gain more control over the listing process, allowing them to prioritize economic interests over conservation * Industry groups: Will benefit from reduced regulatory oversight and increased access to sensitive information * The Department of Defense: Gets a free pass on disclosing classified information related to environmental protection

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a Trojan horse for special interests. By creating unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, it will:

* Delay or block listings of endangered species, allowing industries to continue exploiting natural resources without consequence * Increase the influence of states and industry groups over the listing process, undermining the scientific integrity of ESA decisions * Intimidate environmental organizations by forcing them to disclose financial information related to lawsuits

In short, HR 180 is a cynical attempt to gut the Endangered Species Act under the guise of transparency and accountability. It's a classic case of "legislative lupus" – a disease where politicians prioritize special interests over the public good, while pretending to serve the greater good.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this farce unfold. Next patient, please!

Related Topics

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$80,600
20 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$11,450
Committees
$0
Individuals
$68,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
2
ROBERTSON & ASSOCIATES LLP
1 transaction
$3,300
3
HEESY & HELLER
3 transactions
$650
4
ERROTABERE RANCHES
1 transaction
$500
5
THE DELAPLANE LIVING TRUST
1 transaction
$250
6
THE CLEVELAND REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST
3 transactions
$150

No committee contributions found

1
FISHER, KENNETH MR.
2 transactions
$12,800
2
FISHER, SHERRILYN
1 transaction
$6,600
3
WEISZ, BYRON MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
DWELLE, THOMAS MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
5
UNITED AUBURN INDIAN COMM. OF, .
2 transactions
$6,600
6
EMMERSON, MARK MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
7
MUIR, ARTHUR MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
8
DEBBER, JANET
1 transaction
$3,300
9
GRIGSBY, JOHN MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
10
EGGERT, STEVEN
1 transaction
$3,300
11
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NA, .
1 transaction
$3,300
12
CASTILLO, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
13
GARCIA, GERARDO
1 transaction
$3,300

Donor Network - Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 21 nodes and 30 connections

Total contributions: $80,600

Top Donors - Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

6 Orgs1 Committee13 Individuals