Following a speech by Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) on the House floor addressing concerns about growing gray wolf populations, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to approve H.R. 845, known as The Pet and Livestock Protection Act. The legislation aims to remove federal protections for the gray wolf, shifting management authority back to state agencies.
“Today’s vote is a long-overdue acknowledgment that the federal government’s approach to gray wolf management has failed,” said Congressman Bentz. “From my first days in Congress, I have pushed to delist the gray wolf because the consequences of inaction are being felt every day in Oregon’s Second Congressional District. Ranching families are paying the price for policies made in Washington that ignore conditions on the ground. Delisting the gray wolf is a necessary first step toward restoring balance, protecting livestock, driving down the cost of beef prices, and returning wildlife management to the state agencies best equipped to do the job. I strongly urge the Senators of Oregon and the rest of their chamber to pass this legislation.”
Tammy Dennee from the Oregon Cattleman’s Association commented on how livestock producers have been affected economically by predators: “Oregon’s livestock producers have been hard hit economically due to predator activity. It is for this reason, the Oregon Cattleman’s Association supports the passage of HR845, The Pet and Livestock Protection Act, by the house of representatives which is the first step toward the delisting of the wolf. In Oregon, delisting will be a welcome relief to producers in ¾ of the state allowing for long overdue management options under the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. The assurances this bill offers will allow for quality wolf management and protection of private property.”
Dr. Elise Flynn from Valley Falls, Oregon added: “Our most basic human and American rights are denied when we can’t legally take action to protect our own livestock from being harassed and killed right in front of our eyes. The current law is a form of entrapment that turns law abiding citizens into felons just for following their innate instinct to protect their home, family and livelihood. Humans and wolves are both apex predators, so protection laws must go both ways to maintain balance.”
The House vote comes after Bentz highlighted during his recent remarks how wolf attacks have impacted ranchers and rural communities while also pointing out limitations faced by states under current federal regulations.
Cliff Bentz represents Oregon’s 2nd district in Congress since 2021 after replacing Greg Walden (https://bentz.house.gov/). He previously served in both chambers of Oregon’s legislature before his election to Congress (https://bentz.house.gov/about). Born in Salem in 1952, Bentz currently lives in Ontario (https://bentz.house.gov/about/full-biography). He graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a BA in 1974 and earned his JD from Lewis and Clark College three years later.
