Joco Today

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, Jerry Moran, James Lankford, and Markwayne Mullin have introduced a bill aimed at removing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken from the Endangered Species Act's list of protected species. Representative Tracey Mann has presented similar legislation in the House.

"In listing the lesser prairie-chicken, the Biden Administration prioritized the interests of radical environmentalists over rural America," stated Senator Marshall. He emphasized that Kansas and neighboring states have invested significantly in conservation efforts to protect the bird's population before its listing as endangered.

Senator Moran expressed concerns about the impact of this listing on local agriculture: "Listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened or endangered species is disruptive to Kansas farmers and ranchers and harmful to rural communities." He advocated for voluntary solutions rather than regulatory measures.

Representative Mann highlighted past efforts by farmers and landowners: "For more than a decade, farmers, ranchers, private landowners, agricultural and energy producers have enacted voluntary conservation efforts to preserve the lesser prairie-chicken’s population." He criticized President Biden's administration for ignoring these efforts when making their decision.

The background context reveals that in 2023, these senators had previously attempted to overturn the bird's endangered status through legislative means. Although successful in Congress, their resolution was vetoed by then-President Biden. The current bill seeks not only to delist the bird but also to prevent future attempts at re-listing it under federal protection.