Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig joined Wyoming Republican Sen. Craig Thomas last week in introducing a comprehensive reform to the Endangered Species Act.

The bill is entitled the Endangered Species Reform Act of 2007.

"The ESA is plagued with problems ranging from the listing process to the recovery process to the delisting process," Craig said. "It has evolved to have more control over natural resource policy and management than was originally intended. As a result, all activities -- from recreation to industry use the states' ability to manage wildlife -- are severely hampered by the restrictive nature of the ESA."

Craig says his bill takes the following steps: 

-- Improve the listing process by: requiring adequate science that is field tested and peer reviewed; require the Secretary to verify that sufficient biological data exists to support recovery planning; and set minimum requirements for a list petition.

-- Improve states' involvement in the listing and recovery process.

-- Improve recovery by mandating that a recovery plan be published at the time a species is listed.

-- Improve delisting by mandating that a species be delisted when recovery criteria are met.

Craig and Thomas both serve on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Endangered Species Act.