Certainly, no prior law was as comprehensive, nor as controversial.
Every federal agency is affected, as are state and local agencies that use federal money.
Many private landowners are affected, too. With controversial issues, public opinion is an important factor for policy makers. Unfortunately, there is little current data on national public opinion. As of June 1996, the Congressional Record Index contained 273 records, corresponding approximately to the number of hearings in which the ESA was a primary topic. We found reference to 1,341 ESA articles published in natural science journals, most of which are concerned with the biology and evolutionary ecology of species, and with conservation strategies.