House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) sponsored H.R. 4315, the Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act, which would undermine the Endangered Species Act. H.R. 4315 would waste precious taxpayer resources by mandating expensive online databases that would only serve to increase bureaucracy and stand in the way of a balanced approach to conservation. It would also jeopardize the use of legitimate science by allowing any data submitted to agencies from states, tribes or counties to be dubbed the best available science – even if there wasn’t a single scientist involved in the process. Moreover, it would limit the ability of American citizens to obtain counsel and challenge illegal government activities, undermining public involvement from across the political spectrum. On July 29, the House approved H.R. 4315 by a vote of 233-190 (House roll call vote 463). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The Senate took no action on this legislation.