Senate Resolution 101 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 101 BY McCOY A Resolution supporting the federal government’s 1 proposed rule changes that would restrict the sale 2 of African ivory across state lines. 3 WHEREAS, census numbers indicate that an average of 4 96 elephants were killed each day in the African wild 5 in 2012; and 6 WHEREAS, ivory-seeking poachers killed approximately 7 100,000 African elephants in just three years 8 according to a study that provides the first reliable 9 continent-wide estimates of illegal poaching; and 10 WHEREAS, during 2011 alone, roughly 1 of every 12 11 African elephants was killed by a poacher; and 12 WHEREAS, in central Africa, the hardest-hit 13 region of the continent, the African forest elephant 14 population has declined by 65 percent since 2002; and 15 WHEREAS, the demand for ivory has increased 16 significantly, driving up prices, most notably in China 17 and elsewhere in Asia, but also here in the United 18 States, and helping keep black market prices for ivory 19 high in Africa; and 20 WHEREAS, the federal government has proposed to 21 revise the rule for the African elephant promulgated 22 under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act, 23 to provide a near complete regulatory ban on ivory 24 imports, exports, and interstate sales in the United 25 States, which would close loopholes that have allowed 26 smugglers to disguise ivory from recently killed 27 elephants as antiques; and 28 -1- LSB 5280XS (3) 86 gh/nh 1/ 2

S.R. 101 WHEREAS, the federal government’s proposed rule 1 changes would help end the illegal ivory trade in the 2 United States and the federal government should use 3 American intelligence agencies to track and target 4 those who benefit from illegal wildlife trafficking, 5 a trade estimated to generate $8 to $10 billion in 6 revenue each year; NOW THEREFORE, 7 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate joins 8 the federal government’s global fight to counter 9 the terrorist organizations, rebel groups, and 10 international criminal syndicates that profit from the 11 international illegal wildlife trade; and 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate supports the 13 federal government’s proposed rule changes to section 14 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act, which are necessary 15 to stop the illegal ivory trade and help prevent the 16 senseless death and extinction of elephants in the 17 African wild. 18 -2- LSB 5280XS (3) 86 gh/nh 2/ 2