U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, along with two senators from Oklahoma, introduced legislation last week to delist the lesser prairie chicken as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Reps. Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt, Ron Estes and 11 others introduced companion legislation in the House.
“In listing the lesser prairie chicken, the Biden administration prioritized the interests of radical environmentalists over rural America,” said Marshall. “Fortunately, with this bill, we can undo the burdensome government micromanagement of agriculture and industry in western Kansas and celebrate the voluntary, locally driven conservation efforts.”
He said Kansas and surrounding states have contributed millions of public and private dollars to these efforts, which increased the lesser prairie chicken population well before the decision was made to list it. Moran said the state needs more rain, not regulations, to protect the future of the bird.
“I will continue to work with local communities to bolster voluntary solutions to protect the habitat of the lesser prairie chicken without placing unnecessary burdens on landowners in Kansas,” said Moran.
The Kansas congressional delegation led a similar charge two years ago after the Biden administration first listed the bird under ESA. The measure passed both the Senate and the House before then-President Joe Biden vetoed the resolution. This new bill not only would delist the lesser prairie chicken, but also prohibit future re-listing efforts.
“This bill is the first step in rolling back burdensome regulations from the previous administration that handcuffed Americans,” said Rep. Tracey Mann.