House Adopts Yoder Amendment to De-List Lesser Prairie Chicken

Press Release

This evening, the House of Representatives voted to add Representative Kevin Yoder's (R-KS) amendment to de-list the Lesser Prairie Chicken from the "threatened species" list to the 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations Act.

In March 2014, the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) listed the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species, citing the bird's population decline. With approximately half of the Lesser Prairie Chicken population residing in Kansas, the listing has led to the disruption of oil and gas exploration, abandonment of wind energy projects, and increased costs to Kansas farmers and ranchers.

"Our amendment takes aim at yet another harmful regulation handed down from central planners in Washington," Representative Yoder said. "The Lesser Prairie Chicken's listing as a threatened species has stunted economic growth in Kansas in a misguided effort to save a bird that already saw a 20 percent population increase between 2013 and 2014 due to local efforts. It returns the power to make these important conservation decisions to Kansans, who know best."

"At a time when regulations continue to harm economic growth in Kansas, I'm pleased to be a part of an effort to remove an erroneous regulation that unnecessarily binds farmers, ranchers, energy producers, builders, and others in Kansas from starting or continuing important economic projects in our communities," Representative Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) said. "I'm pleased to support this amendment to de-fund the enforcement of the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. We don't have to choose between our economy and protecting the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The two goals can be mutually obtained and Kansas already has a wildlife management plan to preserve this species. This is simply an issue best left to the States and not federal bureaucrats here in Washington."

"The amendment is an important win for our farmers, ranchers, and energy producers against the devastating effects of the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken," Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) said. "Kansans' ongoing conservation efforts prove they already know how to safeguard this species while protecting our jobs and land rights without burdensome Washington regulations. I am proud to support this amendment that will protect Kansans from overreach from the Endangered Species Act."

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