“It’s a complete rewrite of the Endangered Species Act, and there’s not one provision in the bill that would make it more likely that species would recover. In fact, it would most likely make it more likely that species would continue to decline,” she said. “This bill should just die of its own weight.”

Patrick Parenteau, an emeritus law professor at the Vermont Law and Graduate School, said the Republican representatives may have jumped ship for one specific reason.

“I can’t tell how much of the opposition is about defending the Endangered Species Act, as opposed to preventing oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida,” Parenteau said.

The Florida Everglades ecosystem alone hosts dozens of endangered and threatened species, including manatees, Florida panthers and many birds. It also contributes more than $30 billion annually to real estate, tourism and other parts of the local economy, a recent report estimated. But that ecosystem and others in the state are threatened by fossil fuel production, experts say.

US Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) told E&E News that she is concerned about “opening up any potential avenues for drilling in the Gulf,” given how much the state relies on ecotourism, and that she wants to “see some improvements made before we’re willing to support the bill.”

Dozens of Floridians, including businesspeople, environmentalists and scientists, signed on to a letter opposing the legislation.

“Without protections for habitats and wildlife, the economic value of our natural resources to visitors will be greatly diminished,” the letter read. “Weakening the ESA would harm Florida’s wildlife and environment, as well as our communities and economy.”