Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today made the following remarks regarding the Bush Administration's announcement that it will list the polar bear as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act:
Senator Boxer said: "The listing of the polar bear as ‘threatened' is long overdue, and once again, it took intervention by the courts to force the Bush Administration to obey the law and begin the process of protecting these magnificent creatures. While the listing itself is welcome news, I am deeply concerned that the Administration's plan will deny the polar bear some of the key protections of the Endangered Species Act. The plight of the polar bear is a stark reminder that the planet is already experiencing the ravages of global warming. Today's announcement underscores how important it is for the Senate to pass national legislation to cut global warming pollution and avert the dangerous effects of climate change."
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