Reps. Mann, Pfluger Urge Reversal of Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Endangered Species Listings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and August Pfluger (TX-11) reintroduced the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The LIZARD Act will remove the dunes sagebrush lizard from the threatened and endangered species list under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Members also urged Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to reverse the listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard and the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) from the threatened and endangered species list to recognize the success of local conservation efforts and restore regulatory certainty for rural communities. 

“From day one, President Biden used every tool in his toolbox to trample on the livelihoods of America’s energy and agricultural producers,” said Rep. Mann. “His administration continuously ignored the facts on the ground and decided federal bureaucrats were better equipped to manage these populations than local citizens. Our bill restores power back to the local communities most impacted by these decisions and removes the regulatory handcuffs put on them by the Biden Administration. We look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Burgum to reverse these ill-informed listings and unleash the American energy dominance 77 million Americans voted for this past November.”

“Former President Biden spent four years fulfilling his promise to kill the fossil fuel industry one horrible policy at a time – including listing the dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act, a direct attack on our hardworking men and women in the energy sector,” said Rep. Pfluger. “This listing, along with many others, was completely misguided and repudiates significant private conservation efforts in West Texas. I am proud to lead the charge alongside my good friend and colleague Rep. Tracey Mann to continue undoing the Biden Administration’s nonsensical policies and protect American energy production and jobs.”

Under the Biden Administration, the LPC and dunes sagebrush lizard were listed as endangered species, ignoring the honest conservation efforts by Kansas and Texas farmers, ranchers, agricultural, and energy producers. The efforts increased the lesser prairie-chicken population and resulted in net acreage conservation gains for the dunes sagebrush lizards’ habitat. In the letter to Secretary Burgum, the Members highlighted that the Trump Administration had the opportunity to correct the misguided listings and ensure America could maintain its energy dominance.

“Empowering states, landowners, and private partners to continue leading species management ensures we can protect wildlife without sacrificing economic growth, energy production, or the livelihoods of hardworking Americans.  Striking this balance is critical to maintaining our environmental stewardship and America’s energy dominance. With the right approach, we can achieve lasting conservation results without burdening the very communities that have been instrumental in protecting these species,” the Members wrote.

“The Trump Administration can correct these misguided policies by directing FWS to delist both the Lesser Prairie Chicken and the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard. Doing so will restore balance to our conservation efforts—allowing local stakeholders to continue their successful work while safeguarding American energy production, protecting jobs, and supporting rural economies,” the Members concluded.

Rep. Mann introduced legislation to remove the LPC from the threatened and endangered species list and to prohibit future efforts to relist the LPC in January 2025.

In May 2021, Rep. Mann criticized the listing of the LPC as endangered and threatened. After Rep. Mann pressured U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency extended the public comment period for citizens to submit feedback on the proposed rule. In November 2022, he blasted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s final rule that ignored the facts of the LPC population and declared a proxy war on American agriculture and energy. 

In February 2023, Rep. Mann led a bicameral Congressional Review Act to strike down the LPC’s listing on the threatened species list. The resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2023. Rep. Mann strongly condemned President Biden’s veto of the resolution and his refusal to listen to America’s agriculture and energy producers.

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For more information on Rep. Mann visit www.mann.house.gov