Congressman Krishnamoorthi Leads Illinois Delegation Letter Urging Federal Protections for Monarch Butterfly

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi today led a letter from the Illinois Congressional Delegation urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize its proposed rule listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The letter highlights the monarch’s alarming population decline—down more than 90% since the 1990s—and emphasizes the need for federal action to preserve the butterfly’s critical habitat and iconic migration route.

“Here in Illinois, the monarch butterfly is more than a symbol of natural beauty—it’s our official state insect and a vital part of our ecosystem,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “With populations crashing due to habitat loss and pesticide use, it’s long past time to provide the monarch the federal protections it urgently needs. This is about saving an iconic species and supporting the pollinators our farmers, gardeners, and food systems rely on.”

The letter was co-signed by Representatives Bill Foster, Danny Davis, Brad Schneider, Jonathan Jackson, Jesús “Chuy” García, Jan Schakowsky, Mike Quigley, and Sean Casten. It urges swift and science-based action from the Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the monarch butterfly as threatened, ensuring collaboration with farmers, conservationists, and local governments to restore habitat and preserve migration routes.

The effort has received strong backing from leading environmental organizations:

“The Illinois Environmental Council is grateful to see the Illinois Congressional Delegation’s letter, led by Representative Krishnamoorthi, emphasizing the need to list our state butterfly, the monarch, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act,” said Jen Walling, Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “We commend the efforts of our Illinois farmers, gardeners, and students to protect these iconic butterflies while also recognizing that swift action from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is essential to ensure the monarch’s survival for future generations.”

“The monarch butterfly is a critical pollinator species that has experienced a steep population decline in recent years due to pesticide use, habitat destruction, and climate change,” said Madeleine Foote, Healthy Communities Program Director at the League of Conservation Voters. “We thank Congressman Krishnamoorthi and the members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation for supporting this important proposal and urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to quickly finalize this rule to protect the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.”

The letter is endorsed by the Illinois Environmental Council, League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club.