Markup | Full Committee Hearing

The House Committee on Natural Resources GOP held a full committee markup hearing on January 23, 2026, primarily focused on considering H.R. 4255, the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025, which proposes delisting the Mexican gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act due to population recovery. The committee also considered a unanimous consent package of seven other bills related to tribal jurisdiction, infrastructure, public information on marine waters, and national park partnerships. The hearing featured extensive debate on H.R. 4255, with proponents arguing the wolf population has recovered sufficiently and that delisting would alleviate economic and safety concerns for ranchers. Opponents contended the species has not met recovery criteria, warning premature delisting could destabilize ecosystems and undermine federal conservation efforts. An amendment proposing a report to evaluate and strengthen Mexico's recovery efforts was rejected, while an amendment in the nature of a substitute supporting delisting was adopted. No specific contract awards, procurement decisions, or budget allocations were discussed during the meeting.