Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) offered an amendment to S. Con. Res. 11, the Senate version of the FY16 budget, which would undermine the protection of imperiled plants and wildlife. The Cotton amendment would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to examine the “cumulative” economic effects of a critical habitat designation, such as the effect on agriculture and business. The FWS already evaluates the total federal costs of a critical habitat designation and this amendment would drain agency resources that could be better used to further protections for wildlife and plants. On March 27, the Senate approved the Cotton amendment by a vote of 52-42 (Senate roll call vote 128). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The Cotton amendment was included in the final Budget Conference Report that was approved by the House on April 30 and the Senate on May 5.