WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) voted in support of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-OK) Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the northern long-eared bat’s listing as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The classification would place an undue burden on Wyoming landowners, businesses and infrastructure projects without clear scientific evidence of the benefit to the northern long-eared bat.
“Listing the northern long-eared bat as endangered would create a regulatory headache for people throughout Wyoming,” said Senator Lummis. “There’s no evidence listing the northern long-eared bat would do anything to actually help the species, however, it would definitely cost hardworking people in Wyoming a lot of time and money. We can responsibly manage wildlife without killing jobs and destroying our economy.”
In Wyoming, the northern long-eared bat is known or believed to be native to Campbell, Crook, Niobrara, Sheridan and Weston counties.
The CRA passed by a vote of 51-49.
Background:
On November 30, 2022, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published its final rule listing the northern long-eared bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
After Senator Lummis and her colleagues expressed opposition, FWS announced it would delay the effective date for the final rule to March 31, 2023.
On March 6, 2023, FWS announced interim guidance to assist stakeholders in the transition to the reclassification.
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