Carper Applauds Decision to Reverse Course on Trump Administration’s Rollback of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement in response to the Department of Interior (DOI) delaying implementation of a Trump Administration rule that would weaken the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).

“I applaud the Biden Administration for pressing pause on this unprecedented damaging rule. For over a century, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act has protected hundreds of bird species and rescued many from the brink of extinction. The previous administration continuously ignored its obligations under this landmark law and prioritized polluters instead. As climate change continues to threaten wildlife and their habitats, we should be thinking of ways we can better protect them. I’m encouraged by the Biden Administration’s early actions to reverse course and restore the MBTA.”

Last March, Senator Carper led 22 of his colleagues in a letter asking the Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to reverse course on its proposed rule on the MBTA, outlining concerns about the 45-day comment period and the devastating impacts that could come with removing penalties for companies that incidentally kill birds.

On July 15, 2020, Senator Carper and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a group of 20 of their colleagues in a letter to urge Secretary Bernhardt to reverse course on the MTBA rule, citing concerns with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the rule.

On October 15, 2020, Senator Carper, Senator Van Hollen, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) led 14 of their colleagues in a letter urging Secretary Bernhardt to rescind the proposed rule change after the Southern District of New York ruled the 2017 M-Opinion, which the new rule is based on, to be unlawful.