Endangered Species Act - Constituent Support

Environment

Contact Information

Date Contacted: February 2026 Method: Email via Langworthy.house.gov Topic: Support for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Response Status: Form letter received same day (Feb 11, 2026)

Langworthy’s Response

Tracking Code: [NWVZDL-VR067] Response Date: February 11, 2026 (5:28 PM)

“Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and conserving our environment. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.”

On the ESA:

“As you may know, the ESA was signed into law by President Nixon in 1973 and it has been identified by the Supreme Court as the most comprehensive environmental conservation legislation signed into law by any country, ever. Growing up in the beautiful Southern Tier following the Nixon environmental reforms—including the ESA— I was able to see the revival of Lake Erie firsthand.”

Pivoting to Lakes Before Turbines Act:

“I never forgot what the lake was like while overly nutrient polluted with massive algae growth, lacking animal and plant life, and potentially dangerous swimming conditions, which is why the first bill I introduced as a Member of Congress was the Lakes Before Turbines Act (H.R.426). H.R.426 would avert wind farms from being placed in our Great Lakes, preventing the disruption of settled pollutants on the lakebed, 50 pounds of microplastic pollution, per turbine, per year, and an eyesore that would disrupt this fragile ecosystem.”

“Preserving and enhancing our beautiful 23rd Congressional District for recreation, sportsmen and future generations will always be one of my top priorities. Rest assured should Congress consider any legislation regarding the ESA, I will keep your thoughts in mind.”

What This Response Does NOT Address

  1. Current ESA status — No acknowledgment of any active threats to or rollbacks of the ESA
  2. Constituent’s actual concern — Response acknowledges ESA support but pivots entirely to anti-wind-farm legislation
  3. Langworthy’s voting record on environmental legislation — Not mentioned
  4. Whether he would oppose ESA weakening — No commitment given

Pattern: Deflect to Unrelated Personal Priority

The constituent wrote to express support for the ESA. Langworthy used this as an opportunity to promote H.R.426, his anti-wind-turbine bill in the Great Lakes — legislation that has nothing to do with the ESA.

This mirrors the pattern documented in other responses: using constituent contact to broadcast talking points on preferred topics rather than engaging with the constituent’s actual concern.

Form Letter Evidence

  • Tracking code: [NWVZDL-VR067]
  • Personal Lake Erie anecdote appears verbatim in this and related environmental responses
  • Standard closing: “My door is always open…”

Documents

Note: This entry documents publicly available information from official correspondence. Personal constituent information has been redacted.

Last updated: March 14, 2026