WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and all members of the Senate Western Caucus voted to override President Biden’s veto of S.J. Res. 9 and S.J. Res. 11, resolutions under the Congressional Review Act to nullify the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing of the lesser prairie chicken and northern long-eared bat, respectively.
“The Biden administration’s heavy-handed interpretations and ongoing abuse of the ESA continues to punish private property owners rather than empowering them to be partners in species recovery,” said Senator Lummis. “Listing these species will do little to recover their populations and instead strangle property owners with confusing red tape while discouraging voluntary efforts that have already greatly benefitted both the northern long-eared bat and lesser prairie chicken.”
BACKGROUND:
In May 2023, the Senate and House of Representatives passed S.J. Res. 9 and S.J. Res. 11 with bipartisan support.
S.J. Res. 9 seeks to overturn the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the lesser prairie chicken as endangered under the ESA. This resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 50-48.
S.J. Res. 11 seeks to overturn the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to change the listing of the northern long-eared bat from “threatened” to “endangered.” This resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 51-49.
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