Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2014) – Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced their decision to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Members of the Congressional Western Caucus responded to this decision with the following statements:

“I am extremely dissatisfied by FWS’s decision today. Existing cooperative conservation efforts between private industry, state officials, landowners, and the federal government are more than adequate to protect this species. FWS endorsed one of the plans that has enrolled millions of acres of LPC habitat and millions of dollars for habitat remediation. FWS’s actions today not only derail these incredible efforts, but also deny a future template for joint conservation efforts. Director Ashe and Washington Bureaucrats have failed once again to take steps towards a meaningful conservation strategy that does not jeopardize the economic stability of western communities.” -Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce (NM-2)

“I am disappointed in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Director Ashe had the opportunity to build a new model of cooperative conservation and he failed. The purpose of the range wide plan was to preclude a listing. It was to show that a voluntary, stakeholder process could have preserved the Lesser Prairie Chicken.” - Congressman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11)

“I’m incredibly disappointed by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as threatened. The timing of this decision is being driven by activist lawsuits, instead of what’s best for the species and the communities near its habitat. This listing is an economic blow to West Texas and every state that has Lesser Prairie Chicken habitat. What’s worse is that this listing is unnecessary. The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Range-Wide Conservation Plan—an unprecedented collaboration between farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and governments across five states—would have successfully conserved habitat and fully recovered the species. But instead of cooperative conservation, we’re getting more Knows-Best regulations. Decisions like this will discourage innovative conservation efforts in the private sector, and ultimately do more harm than good.” -Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)

The listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken today by the FWS eradicates months of progress made in ensuring the conservation of the species without Government involvement. Current conservation efforts, carried out by private industry, have added nearly 4 million acres of habitat and $26 million for on-the-ground efforts to preserve the species. The decision threatens the well-being of western communities by discontinuing successful conservation efforts that have adequately demonstrated that preservation can be achieved without hindering economic development.