,,ib  ,union ,cal5d> ,no4 #hee  #aae?   
,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4 ,r4 #fcee
  ,report ,no4 #aae-aaje  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se
 ,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,july #ab1 #bjah 
,mr4 ,we/]man 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,biggs1  
,mr4 ,bi%op ( ,utah1 ,mr4 ,cram]1 ,mr4  
,duncan ( ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,gos>1 ,mr4
 ,norman1 ,mr4 ,abraham1 ,mr4           
,luetkemey]1 ,mr4 ,smi? ( ,miss\ri1 ,mr4
 ,banks ( ,indiana1 ,mrs4 ,noem1 ,mr4   
,/ew>t1 ,mr4 ,coll9s ( ,georgia1 ,mr4   
,mc,clintock1 ,mr4 ,e/es ( ,kansas1 ,mr4
 ,gohm]t1 & ,mr4 ,ne:\se7 introduc$ !   
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,natural ,res\rces        
,decemb] #ba1 #bjah;,additional         
sponsors3 ,mr4 ,gu?rie1 ,mr4 ,hunt]1    
,mr4 ,m>%all1 ,mr4 ,latta1 ,mr4 ,mooney 
( ,we/ ,virg9ia1 & ,mr4 ,rokita         
,decemb] #ba1 #bjah ,report$ ) an       
am5dm5t1 committ$ to ! ,committee ( !   
,:ole ,h\se on ! ,/ate ( ! ,union1 &    
ord]$ to be pr9t$ ,/rike out all aft] ! 
enact+ clause & ins]t ! "p pr9t$ 9      
italic ,= text ( introduc$ bill1 see    

copy ( bill z introduc$ on ,july #ab1   
#bjah  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,endang]$  
,species ,act ( #aigc to def9e petition 
backlogs & provide exp$it$ means =      
dis*>g+ petitions dur+ su* a backlog4   
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,provid+ ,,esa ,tim+ ,improvem5ts ,t  
,increase ,opportunities = ,nonli/+ ,act
 ( #bjah or ! ,,petition ,act ( #bjah4  
#b4 ,def9itions ,section #c ( !         
,endang]$ ,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af    
,u4,s4,c4 #aecb7 is am5d$--  7#a7 by    
mov+ ! m>g9s ( p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh     
7#ba7 #b ems to ! "r2  7#b7 by ins]t+   
be=e ! text ! foll[+3 7a7 ,9 g5]al4--2 &
  7#c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7b7  
,def9itions relat$ to petitions ,9 ?is  
,act3  7#a7 #ij-;day petition backlog ,!
 t]m #ij-;day petition backlog means su*
 a backlog decl>$ by ! ,secret>y "u     
section #d7;b77#c77;,e74  7#b7 #ab-mon? 
petition backlog ,! t]m #ab-mon?        
petition backlog means su* a backlog    
decl>$ by ! ,secret>y "u section        
#d7;b77#c77;,e74  7#c7 ,backlog s*$ule  

,! t]m backlog s*$ule means a           
compreh5sive1 regul>ly updat$ comp5dium 
( petition$-= species t are ! subject ( 
a #ij-;day petition backlog or a        
#ab-mon? petition backlog--  7,a7 t     
consi/s (-- 7i7 a li/ ( petitions to add
 a species to a li/ ( species "u section
 #d7;c71 includ+ petitions to move a    
species f ! li/ ( ?reat5$ species to !  
li/ ( endang]$ species2 &  7ii7 a li/ ( 
petitions to remove a species f a li/ ( 
species "u section #d7;c71 includ+      
petitions to move a species f ! li/ (   
endang]$ species to ! li/ ( ?reat5$     
species2 &  7,b7 9 :i* ! petitions 9 ea*
 su* li/ appe> 9 ! ord] 9 :i* !         
petitions 7 submitt$ to ! ,secret>y4    
7#d7 ,backlog proc$ures ,! t]m backlog  
proc$ures means ! actions tak5 by !     
,secret>y-- 7,a7 "u section             
#d7;b77#c77;,g7 foll[+ ! decl>ation ( a 
#ij-;day petition backlog2 or  7,b7 "u  
section #d7;b77#c77;,h7 foll[+ !        
decl>ation ( a #ab-mon? petition        
backlog4  7#e7 ,petition$-= species ,!  

t]m petition$-= species means a species 
t has be5 id5tifi$ 9 a petition pres5t$ 
"u subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 ( section   
#d7;b77#c74  4  #c4 ,backlog decl>ation 
& proc$ures  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section      
#d7;b77#c7 ( ! ,endang]$ ,species ,act (
 #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc7;b77#c77 is 
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,e7  
7i7 ,! ,secret>y %all-- 7,i7 decl>e a   
#ij-;day petition backlog at any "t !   
total numb] ( species = :i* a petition  
is pres5t$ to ! ,secret>y "u subp>agraph
 7,a7 t has n be5 ! subject ( a f9d+ by 
! ,secret>y )9 ! timeframe e/abli%$ "u  
su* subp>agraph exce$s #e p]c5t ( !     
numb] ( species = :i* su* petitions h   
be5 pres5t$ dur+ ! prec$+ #ae ye>s2     
7,,ii7 submit a backlog s*$ule = su*    
backlog to-- 7aa7 ! ,presid5t2  7bb7 !  
,*airman & rank+ m9ority ,memb] ( !     
,committee on ,environm5t & ,public     
,works ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7cc7 ! ,*airman & 
rank+ m9ority ,memb] ( ! ,committee on  
,natural ,res\rces ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives2 &  7,,iii7 comply )    

backlog proc$ures "u subp>agraph 7,g7   
dur+ ! p]iod su* backlog is 9 effect4   
7ii7 ,! ,secret>y %all--  7,i7 decl>e a 
#ab-mon? petition backlog at any "t !   
total numb] ( species = :i* a petition  
is be+ consid]$ by ! ,secret>y "u       
subp>agraph 7,b7 t has n be5 ! subject (
 a f9d+ by ! ,secret>y )9 ! timeframe   
e/abli%$ "u su* subp>agraph exce$s #e   
p]c5t ( ! numb] ( species = :i* su*     
petitions h be5 pres5t$ dur+ ! prec$+   
#ae ye>s2  7,,ii7 submit a backlog      
s*$ule = su* backlog to-- 7aa7 !        
,presid5t2  7bb7 ! ,*airman & rank+     
m9ority ,memb] ( ! ,committee on        
,environm5t & ,public ,works ( ! ,s5ate2
 &  7cc7 ! ,*airman & rank+ m9ority     
,memb] ( ! ,committee on ,natural       
,res\rces ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 &
  7,,iii7 comply ) backlog proc$ures "u 
subp>agraph 7,h7 dur+ ! p]iod su*       
decl>ation is 9 effect4  7iii7 ,n lat]  
?an #ij days aft] decl>+ a #ij-;day     
petition backlog or #ab-mon? petition   
backlog1 & e #ij days !reaft] dur+ !    

p]iod su* backlog is 9 effect1 !        
,secret>y %all submit to ! recipi5ts "u 
clause 7ii77,,ii7 & 7iii77,,ii71        
respectively1 an updat$ backlog s*$ule t
 conta9s--  7,i7 a li/ ( petition$-=    
species = :i* a f9d+ _h be5 made s9ce ! 
la/ submission ( ! backlog s*$ule "u su*
 clause2  7,,ii7 ! outcomes ( f9d+s =   
all petition$-= species = :i* a f9d+ has
 be5 made s9ce ! la/ submission ( !     
backlog s*$ule "u su* clause2 &  7,,iii7
 a summ>y ( ! bases ( all f9d+s = any   
petition$-= species = :i* a f9d+ has be5
 made s9ce ! prec$+ submission ( !      
backlog4  7,f7 ,! ,secret>y %all t]m9ate
 a #ij-;day petition backlog or #ab-mon?
 petition backlog at su* "t z !         
requirem5ts = decl>+ su* backlog "u     
subp>agraph 7,e77i7 or 7,e77ii71        
respectively1 are n fulfill$4  7,g7     
,dur+ ! effective p]iod ( a #ij-;day    
petition backlog-- 7i7 ! requirem5t "u  
subp>agraph 7,a7 to make a f9d+ )9 #ij  
days %all n apply ) respect to any      
species t is ! subject ( a petition     

includ$ 9 ! li/ "u section              
#b7;b77#c77;,a77i72  7ii7 except z      
provid$ 9 clause 7iii71 ! ,secret>y %all
 n make any f9d+ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 )  
respect to any species includ$ 9 ! li/  
"u section #b7;b77#c77;,a77i7 9 !       
applicable backlog s*$ule1 until ! e>li]
 (--  7,i7 ! date ! ,secret>y t]m9ates !
 backlog "u subp>agraph 7,f72  7,,ii7 ! 
date ! applicable backlog s*$ule consi/s
 ( only ! li/ "u su* section2 or        
7,,iii7 ! date ! only petition$-=       
species 9 ! backlog s*$ule to :i* !     
,secret>y has n devot$ suffici5t        
res\rces s z to issue su* a f9d+ )9 #ij 
days are ^? 9 ! li/ "u su* section2 &   
7iii7 ! ,secret>y is deem$ to h made a  
f9d+ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 t ea* petition 
= a species includ$ 9 ! li/ "u section  
#b7;b77#c77;,a77i7 9 ! applicable       
backlog s*$ule does n pres5t sub/antial 
sci5tific or comm]cial in=mation        
indicat+ t ! petition$ action may be    
w>rant$1 effective ^u ! expiration ( !  
#ahj-;day p]iod beg9n+ on ! date !      

petition 0 submitt$4  7,h7 ,except z    
provid$ 9 subp>agraph 7,i7-- 7i7 aft]   
decl>+ a #ab-mon? petition backlog "u   
subp>agraph 7,e77ii7 & be=e tak+ any    
actions "u clause 7ii7 ( ?is            
subp>agraph1 ! ,secret>y %all assign ea*
 petition & petition$-= species to be   
consid]$ "u su* clause to "o ( ! five   
priority b9s ref]r$ to 9 ! notice issu$ 
by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife     
,s]vice entitl$ ,me?odology =           
,prioritiz+ ,/atus ,reviews &           
,accompany+ #ab-mon? f9d+s on ,petitions
 = ,li/+ ,"u ! ,endang]$ ,species ,act  
7#ha ,f$4 ,reg4 #dibdh 7,july #bg1      
#bjaf772 &  7ii7 dur+ ! effective p]iod 
( su* #ab-mon? petition backlog "u      
subp>agraph 7,e77ii7-- 7,i7 ! requirem5t
 "u subp>agraph 7,b7 to make a f9d+ )9  
#ab mon?s %all n apply ) respect to any 
species t is ! subject ( a petition     
includ$ 9 ! li/ "u section              
#b7;b77#c77;,a77i72  7,,ii7 ! ,secret>y 
%all consid] "u ?is p>agraph only       
petitions = species includ$ 9 ! li/ "u  

section #b7;b77#c77;,a77ii7 9 !         
applicable backlog s*$ule1 t 7 submitt$ 
m ?an #ab mon?s be=e ! e/abli%m5t ( !   
backlog2  7,,iii7 except z provid$ 9    
subclause 7,,iv71 ! ,secret>y %all n    
make any f9d+ "u subp>agraph 7,b7 )     
respect to any species includ$ 9 ! li/  
"u section #b7;b77#c77;,a77i7 9 !       
applicable backlog s*$ule1 until ! e>li]
 (--  7aa7 ! date ! ,secret>y t]m9ates !
 backlog "u subp>agraph 7,f72  7bb7 !   
date ! applicable backlog s*$ule consi/s
 ( only ! li/ "u su* section2 or  7cc7 !
 date ! only petition$-= species 9 !    
backlog s*$ule to :i* ! ,secret>y has n 
devot$ suffici5t res\rces s z to issue  
su* a f9d+ )9 #ab mon?s are ^? 9 ! li/  
"u su* section2 &  7,,iv7 ! ,secret>y is
 deem$ to h made a f9d+ "u subp>agraph  
7,b77i7 = ea* species includ$ 9 ! li/ "u
 section #b7;b77#c77;,a77i7 t !         
petition$ action is n w>rant$--  7aa7   
effective ^u ! expiration ( ! #ah-mon?  
p]iod beg9n+ on ! date ! petition 0     
submitt$1 if ! ,secret>y has n assign$ !

 species to ! ,highe/                   
,priority--,critically ,imp]il$1 ,/rong 
,data ,already ,available on ,/atus     
priority b9 or ,new ,sci5ce ,und]way to 
,in=m ,key ,unc]ta9ties priority b9     
ref]r$ to 9 ! notice ref]r$ to 9 clause 
7i72 or  7bb7 effective ^u ! expiration 
( ! #bd-mon? p]iod beg9n+ on ! date !   
petition 0 submitt$1 if ! ,secret>y has 
assign$ ! species to ! ,/rong ,data     
,already ,available on ,/atus priority  
b9 or ,new ,sci5ce ,und]way to ,in=m    
,key ,unc]ta9ties priority b9 ref]r$ to 
9 ! notice ref]r$ to 9 clause 7i74  7,i7
  7i7 ,9 ! case ( ! fir/ #ab-mon?       
petition backlog "u subp>agraph         
7,e77ii7-- 7,i7 item 7aa7 ( subp>agraph 
7,h77ii77,,iv7 %all be appli$ by        
sub/itut+ #cj-mon? = #ah-mon?2 &  7,,ii7
 item 7bb7 ( subp>agraph 7,h77ii77,,iv7 
%all be appli$ by sub/itut+ #cf-mon? =  
#bd-mon?4  7ii7 ,! ,secret>y may n "u   
subp>agraph 7,h77i7 *ange ! assignm5t ( 
a petition or petition$-= species f "o  
priority b9 to ano!r priority b94  7,j7 

,9 ! case ( f9d+s "u subp>agraph        
7,g77iii7 & 7,h77ii77,,iv71 !           
publication "u subp>agraph 7,a7 or      
7,b77i71 respectively1 may consi/ solely
 ( a notice ( ea* f9d+4  7,k7  7i7      
,except z o!rwise provid$ 9 ?is ,act1 ! 
,secret>y %all regul>ly ma9ta9 on !     
int]net site ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &   
,wildlife ,s]vice a publically available
 database ( petitions ref]r$ to 9 ?is   
p>agraph & species o!rwise evaluat$ "u  
subsection 7a74  7ii7 ,! database %all  
conta9 in=mation ab\t ea* petition$-=   
species includ+-- 7,i7 ! date a petition
 = su* species 0 submitt$2  7,,ii7 !    
p]son :o submitt$ ! petition2  7,,iii7 !
 curr5t /atus ( ! petition )9 ! /atutory
 & ag5cy process1 includ+ ! mo/ rec5t   
ag5cy action tak52  7,,iv7 a web l9k to 
any docum5ts receiv$ "u ?is p>agraph t  
con/itut$ ! petition = su* species2     
7,v7 a web l9k to any mat]ials !        
,secret>y has receiv$ f ,/ate or local  
gov]nm5ts p]ta9+ to petitions to li/ su*
 species2  7,,vi7 ! outcomes ( all prior

 petition+ or li/+ proc$ures = su*      
species2 &  7,,vii7 ! outcomes ( all    
prior litigation aga9/ ! ,f$]al         
,gov]nm5t on ! basis ( a petition = or  
li/+ ( su* species1 includ+ actions or  
agreem5ts by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t to--    
7aa7 disp5se monies to litigat+ p>ties  
or c\nsel2  7bb7 promulgate rules z a   
direct or indirect result ( litigation  
outcomes or agreem5ts2  7cc7 resolve any
 matt] relat$ to ! petition or a        
petition$-= species by a c]ta9 date1 or 
o!rwise2  7dd7 conduct fur!r rese>* or  
analysis relat$ to ! petition or        
petition$-= species2 or  7ee7 engage 9  
any o!r activity z a result ( ! t]ms (  
litigation settlem5ts or c\rt ord]s     
relat$ to su* petitions or petition$-=  
species4  7,l7 ,not)/&+ subp>agraph     
7,c77ii71 a f9d+ by ! ,secret>y "u      
subp>agraph 7,g77iii71 & any failure by 
! ,secret>y 9 ! effective p]iod ( a     
#ij-;day petition backlog to make a f9d+
 "u subp>agraph 7,a7 ) respect to any   
species includ$ 9 ! li/ "u section      

#b7;b77#c77;,a77i7 9 ! applicable       
backlog s*$ule1 is n subject to judicial
 review4  7,m7  7i7 ,! ,secret>y %all   
ent] into a contract ) any p]son "u :i* 
! p]son agrees to reimburse ! ,f$]al    
,gov]nm5t = all co/s incurr$ = review ( 
& decision ^u any petition "u ?is ,act  
to add a species to a li/ ( species "u  
section #d7;c71 includ+ petitions to    
move a species f ! li/ ( ?reat5$ species
 to ! li/ ( endang]$ species4  7ii7 ,su*
 a contract-- 7,i7 %all require ! p]son 
to reimburse su* co/s mon?ly dur+ !     
p]iod ! petition is "u review by !      
,secret>y2 &  7,,ii7 if paym5t (        
reimbursem5t is made 9 accordance )     
subclause 7,i7 )\t lapse1 %all require !
 ,secret>y1 not)/&+ any o!r provision ( 
?is ,act1 to--  7aa7 issue a decision on
 ! petition2 &  7bb7 cont9u\sly /udy1   
review1 or r5d] su* a decision dur+ !   
p]iod ! contract is 9 effect4  4  7b7   
,con=m+ am5dm5t ,section #d7;b77#c77;,c7
 ( ! ,endang]$ ,species ,act ( #aigc    
7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc7;b77#c77;,c77 is   

am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ clause 7ii72 &    
7#b7 by r$esignat+ clause 7iii7 z clause
 7ii74  7c7 ,effect ( dismissal (       
petition ,section #d7;b77#c7 ( !        
,endang]$ ,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af    
,u4,s4,c4 #aecc7;b77#c771 z am5d$ by    
subsection 7a71 is fur!r am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+3  7,n7 ,dismissal ( a 
petition by backlog proc$ures %all n    
affect ! review ( any subsequ5t petition
 = any species  4  ,decemb] #ba1 #bjah  
,report$ ) an am5dm5t1 committ$ to !    
,committee ( ! ,:ole ,h\se on ! ,/ate ( 
! ,union1 & ord]$ to be pr9t$