Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Lesser Prairie-Chicken; Threatened Status With Section 4(d) Rule for the Northern Distinct Population Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern Distinct Population Segment".
Summary
This joint resolution would nullify a 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that placed the lesser prairie-chicken on the federal endangered species list. By overturning this rule, the bill would remove federal land-use restrictions and "take" prohibitions that currently affect farmers, ranchers, and energy developers across Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. While the resolution passed both the House and Senate in 2023, it was subsequently vetoed by the President, and the veto was sustained by the Senate. Consequently, the federal protections for the species remain in place, though they have been subject to separate ongoing challenges in federal court.