A joint resolution 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 sought to overturn a 2022 Department of the Interior rule that granted federal protections to the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act. By nullifying this rule, the resolution would have removed the "endangered" classification for the bird's southern population (in parts of Texas and New Mexico) and the "threatened" classification for its northern population (in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado).
For citizens and industries in these regions, the bill’s passage would have eliminated federal restrictions on land use and commercial activities—such as oil and gas drilling, wind energy development, and ranching—that are currently regulated to protect the bird’s habitat. While the resolution passed both the House and the Senate, it was vetoed by the President, and a subsequent Senate vote failed to reach the two-thirds majority required to override that veto. As a result, the federal protections for the lesser prairie-chicken remain in effect.