Contact Congress about H.R. 97: Armed Forces Endangered Species Exemption Act

This bill would make endangered species rules apply less often to military land and defense work. It would block critical habitat labels for covered defense areas and excuse many defense operations from bans on harming protected species.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Armed Forces Endangered Species Exemption Act is a House bill house Consideration.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects the military, Defense Department contractors, wildlife agencies, and protected species on or near defense-used areas. Military planners could have fewer Endangered Species Act limits when using bases, training ranges, testing sites, and other needed areas. Wildlife agencies would have less say in some defense actions. Protected plants and animals could face more risk where defense work overlaps with their habitat.

Why this matters: This bill matters because it changes the balance between military readiness and wildlife protection. Today, defense projects may need to account for protected species and their habitat. This bill would remove some of those limits for covered military land and defense operations. It could help avoid delays for training, testing, and readiness work. It could also leave some endangered or threatened species with fewer protections in places used for defense.

Key provisions in H.R. 97

• The Interior Secretary could not label military bases or state-owned National Guard sites as critical habitat. Critical habitat means land or water marked as especially important for a protected species.
• The same bar could apply to other land, water, or areas used by the Defense Department or its contractors. The Defense Secretary would need to say in writing that the area is needed for training, weapons testing, or another defense purpose.
• The Defense Secretary would not have to consult with the Interior Secretary for covered defense actions in those areas. This removes an Endangered Species Act review that checks whether an agency action may harm protected species.
• The bill would add a new Endangered Species Act rule for military personnel. During national defense-related operations, the usual bans on taking, importing, or exporting endangered or threatened species would not apply.
• Protected species could be hurt or killed during a national defense-related operation without triggering those usual bans. The exemption would apply only when the harm was not the purpose of the operation, and it would apply on or off a military base.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 97

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 97

What is H.R. 97?

This bill would make endangered species rules apply less often to military land and defense work. It would block critical habitat labels for covered defense areas and excuse many defense operations from bans on harming protected species.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 97?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 97?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 97?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.