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Today, Wisconsin’s own Sen. Ron Johnson walked onto the Senate floor and asked for unanimous consent to fast-track S. 1306, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act — the bill that would strip Endangered Species Act protections from gray wolves across the Lower 48.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) objected. The fast-track failed. The wolves are still protected — today. You can watch his floor remarks here: Sen. Booker on gray wolves (C-SPAN).
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One objection bought us time. It didn’t win the war.
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Here’s the part they don’t want you to see in the press release: this bill already cleared the House 211–204 in December, backed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Safari Club International, Hunter Nation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Public Lands Council, and the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association — who are, as of this week, publicly pressuring Senate leadership to bring it back for a real vote.
Johnson isn’t done. This bill isn’t dead. It’s paused.
What this bill would actually do
S. 1306 would reissue the 2020 rule stripping wolves of federal protection nationwide — reversing years of litigation, including the 2022 federal court ruling that found the original delisting was premature. And it’s written specifically to make the decision harder to challenge in court again.
“Trust the science” — unless it’s inconvenient
Johnson and his allies love to frame wolf delisting as “following the science.” Worth remembering who’s saying that. This is the same senator who’s on record calling climate change “bullshit” and telling voters not to trust the scientists. Science is only science to Johnson when it lines up with what he already wanted to do.
A small win — and a hard truth
This is a small win. The battle goes on. Johnson will be back, the hunting and cattle lobby is already pushing to bring S. 1306 up again, and one objection doesn’t change the underlying math in the Senate.
And here’s the part worth sitting with: it wasn’t Wisconsin’s own senator who stood up for our wolves. It was Cory Booker of New Jersey — a senator GLWA has met with in D.C. and continues to work alongside as a genuine champion for wolves and the Endangered Species Act. Sen. Baldwin, meanwhile, has spent over a decade pushing to delist Wisconsin’s wolves — she teamed up with Ron Johnson himself on a delisting bill in 2022, and introduced her own “Northern Great Lakes Wolf Recovery Act” in 2023. If she’d been the one standing at that microphone instead of Booker, don’t count on the same outcome.
Why we’re still in this fight
While Washington argues about the federal listing, Wisconsin’s own DNR is moving on parallel tracks that matter just as much — an emergency rule on depredation claims, a rewritten endangered species list, and a petition denial we’re actively challenging. The state listing is the only backstop if this federal bill ever passes. That’s the fight GLWA is built for — and we don’t wait around for Wisconsin’s own congressional delegation to do it for us.
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Every Objection Has a Cost
Booker bought us a few weeks. Your gift buys us the rest of the fight.
Johnson isn’t stopping. The hunting and cattle lobby isn’t stopping. GLWA doesn’t stop either — but we run on donations from people like you, not corporate PACs. Every dollar goes straight into the legal work, the records requests, and the pressure campaigns keeping Wisconsin’s wolves alive while Washington drags its feet.
Defend the Wolves — Give Now →
Wisconsin’s wolves don’t get a vote in the Senate. You do — right here.
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One senator’s objection isn’t a strategy. Ours is. Thank you for standing with the wolves.
— Melissa Smith
Founder & Executive Director
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance
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Johnson, Baldwin and unfortunately it appears Tom Tiffany is going to be added to the hate wolves wisconsin contingent (given that it appears the Dems are not going to present an electable candidate to face Tom)
Nature needs wolves. Bringing back wolves in Yellowstone made a huge difference in the health of the environment.
Plus, I adore them.
Johnson, Baldwin and I believe Tom Tiffany will unfortunately be added to the Wisconsin wolf hater contingent, due to the Dems likely choosing an unelectable candidate (IMO) to face Tom.
Thanks to Corey Booker for standing up for wolves, the most maligned wild creature. Wolves are a top predator and kill only for substance. They kill the weak and sick and are too often blamed for killings of ranch animals who,in fact may also be weak and/or sick. Why are they all so hateful to wolves? Keep fighting for these magnificent creatures.
Thank you Corey Booker. Hard headed politicians need to have more empathy towards the animals we share this earth with.
protect wolves