Lankford Votes to Override Biden’s Unreasonable Endangered Species Act Listings

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted to override two vetoes by President Biden of resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings of the northern long-eared bat and the lesser prairie-chicken.

“The Endangered Species Act is being used as a tool for the feds to takeover energy, agriculture, and commerce in Oklahoma,” said Lankford. “Our energy, agriculture, and construction companies have willingly cooperated to recover the lesser prairie-chicken and to preserve the habitat of the northern long-eared bat in order to prevent their listing under the Endangered Species Act. Listing either or both of these animals under the ESA would create new requirements—no longer voluntary—for Oklahomans and other surrounding states. This is the Biden Administration’s attempt to weaponize the ESA to pander to environmental activists.” 

Lankford and his colleagues introduced the resolution of disapproval to strike down the Biden Administration’s listing of the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) and the northern long-eared bat under the ESA. Lankford also pressed for reasonable interpretations of the critical habitat rule as the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) continues to try to weaponize the ESA against reasonable development and energy exploration. 

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