Vermont Senator James Jeffords has won a victory in his attempt to protect endangered species. The Senate on Wednesday passed a Jeffords amendment to limit Defense Department exemptions from the Endangered Species Act.
The Pentagon had sought broad-reaching, permanent waivers from the law. The Jeffords amendment passed on a vote of 51 to 48. Jeffords says he supports the military, but does not want the armed forces to be exempted from environmental laws.