The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday with a vote of 211-204 aimed at removing Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves outside of Alaska. Sponsored by Republican Lauren Boebert from Colorado, the bill directs the Interior Secretary to reinstate a 2020 rule that delisted gray wolves, excluding the Mexican wolf, in the contiguous United States. This rule had previously been invalidated by a federal court in 2022. The measure saw support from five Democrats, while four Republicans opposed it. The vote occurred just before a scheduled two-week recess, with 18 members not participating. In the Senate, Republican Ron Johnson from Wisconsin has introduced a companion bill, but its passage faces challenges due to the requirement of a 60-vote threshold for most legislation. Despite the bill's progress, concerns were raised regarding the gray wolf population, which has not yet met recovery criteria defined by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Representative Donald S. Beyer, a Democrat from Virginia, highlighted the need for appropriate population thresholds and criticized the bill as unwise and potentially illegal. House Natural Resources Committee ranking Democrat Jared Huffman of California expressed concerns that the bill sets a dangerous precedent by prohibiting judicial review, suggesting it undermines public accountability in governmental actions. In contrast, several Republicans on the committee supported the bill, arguing that it would enable states to manage wolf populations effectively. Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas, stated that gray wolves have been fully recovered for two decades and emphasized that states are capable of managing these populations. Proponents of the bill also argued that it would enhance protections for livestock and human safety. Representative Pete Stauber from Minnesota shared an anecdote about a wolf sighting in a school parking lot, advocating that the ESA's current status endangers the safety of his constituents.