Floridians Travel to Washington to Hand-Deliver Letter Urging Congress to Reject Attacks on the Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 22, 2026 — Floridians from across the state are in Washington this week to hand-deliver a letter to members of Congress urging them to oppose the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897), legislation they say would undermine protections for Florida’s wildlife, habitats, and the communities and businesses that depend on them.

Representing communities from North Florida to the Gulf Coast, South Florida, and the Florida Keys, the delegation’s message is clear: the Endangered Species Act is not only one of America’s most effective conservation laws, it is also vital to Florida’s economy, outdoor heritage, and quality of life. The letter highlights the direct connection between wildlife protection and the state’s tourism industry, fisheries, recreation economy, and natural resources.

“Florida’s wildlife is part of who we are,” said Marilu Flores, Communications & Digital Associate for the Endangered Species Coalition. “From manatees and sea turtles to panthers and coral reefs, our state’s threatened and endangered species support local economies, sustain cherished traditions, and draw millions of visitors each year. Floridians are coming to Capitol Hill to remind lawmakers that the Endangered Species Act works — and that weakening it would put both wildlife and communities at risk.”

Florida is home to more than a hundred species protected under the Endangered Species Act, including the West Indian manatee, all species of sea turtles found in the state, Rice’s whale, smalltooth sawfish, Key deer, Florida scrub-jay, and the iconic Florida panther. According to the letter delivered today, these species and the habitats they rely on help drive major economic activity across the state through wildlife viewing, coastal recreation, diving, fishing, and park visitation.

The letter also points to the law’s record of success. Thanks in part to ESA protections, green sea turtles have reached record-high nest counts in recent years, Florida’s loggerhead aggregation is the largest in the world, manatee numbers in the state rose from fewer than 1,000 to around 10,000, and Florida panther numbers increased from fewer than 30 to around 200.

The Floridians’ letter warns that H.R. 1897 would weaken recovery efforts by shrinking critical habitat protections, limiting public accountability, preventing balanced mitigation for harm to listed species, and shifting too much responsibility onto under-resourced state agencies. The delegation argues that species recovery requires strong national standards and science-based decision-making, not a patchwork of weaker protections.

“For over 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has helped bring species back from the brink and protected the natural systems all life depends on,” said Susan Holmes, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “Congress should be strengthening this law, not dismantling it. Floridians know firsthand that protecting wildlife also protects our economy, our water, and our future.”

The Endangered Species Coalition and Florida signers are urging members of Congress to reject H.R. 1897 and uphold the Endangered Species Act’s science-based framework.

The full letter and list of signatories is available here.