Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, industry leaders, stakeholders, and representatives of rural America issued the following statements in support of locally-led greater sage-grouse conservation efforts across the West and in support of the Congressional Western Caucus’ work to secure the long-standing provision prohibiting the use of federal funds to list the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus package:

Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation: “Farmers and ranchers care about the land they are entrusted to protect, and that includes the wildlife living on that land. AFBF is glad to see the language on sage grouse included in the omnibus package. We commend the work of the Congressional Western Caucus to ensure that management of sage grouse populations can be handled at a state and local level, by the folks who best understand the situation on the ground.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “We applaud the work done by Western Caucus Members in the omnibus package to ensure that sage-grouse protections will continue to be managed by state tribal and local officials rather than the federal government.  State and local leaders are best equipped to protect and control wildlife, and the provision included in the bill is an important step towards maintaining the progress that has already been made to protect sage-grouse populations.”

Ian Lyle, Executive Vice President, National Water Resources Association: "We greatly appreciate the bipartisan support for H.R. 2471 and the inclusion of language allowing states, local governments, and land managers to continue leading on effective Sage Grouse conservation efforts. We thank Congressman Newhouse and the Western Caucus for their strong leadership on Sage Grouse conservation and the broader need to improve the ESA."

Patrick O’Toole, President, Family Farm Alliance: "I live in a community that has emphasized local solutions to enhance sage grouse habitat, protect populations and prioritize landscapes. Recovery strategies must lead to solutions. We know that agendas are ineffective. I was pleased to see that the omnibus appropriations package prohibited funding from being used to list sage-grouse under the ESA."

Matthew Chase, Executive Director, National Association of Counties: “As responsible stewards of the environment, counties have played a key role in conserving the greater sage-grouse and its habitat. Listing the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act would hinder our ability to improve conservation plans and foster economic vitality. Counties applaud Chairman Newhouse and the members of the Congressional Western Caucus for including in the FY 2022 omnibus package a measure that would prevent the listing of the greater sage-grouse.”

Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director, Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Natural Resources: “The inclusion of this long-standing provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus package allows us to continue to provide certainty to those who are actively engaged in successful, voluntary sagebrush conservation while also upholding the intended purpose of the ESA as a tool for emergencies, not permanent population management. Habitat and wildlife management efforts are most effective when they are led by state and local conservationists. Ranchers continue to play a significant role in the support of sage-grouse populations and stand firm against broad government mandates that fail to recognize unique ecosystem needs. We are thankful for the work of the Members who secured this provision.”

Louis Finkel, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: “Inclusion of this provision is a significant development for electric co-ops in the west that are planning to responsibly meet future energy needs. For years, electric cooperatives have worked with state and federal stakeholders to support responsible greater sage grouse conservation. Those efforts will continue as co-ops work to maintain and build power lines consistent with conservation objectives. I thank the Western Caucus for prioritizing this important issue.”