By Congressman Steve Pearce (NM-2)
When the Mexican spotted owl was listed under the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Service claimed logging was the problem, and implemented major restrictions. Twenty years later, more than 100 timber mills have closed their doors. A once-thriving industry vanished—and the jobs with it.
The FWS recently reevaluated that decision. They casually mentioned logging wasn’t the problem after all. In fact, they said, owls would benefit if we brought logging back! Hundreds of good paying, middle class jobs were lost over one careless mistake.
In 2010, it was the same story. The FWS spent over a year pushing to list the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species. But this time, the people spoke up. We held them accountable. And we were proven right. The Department of the Interior ruled that “landmark” voluntary conservation efforts by landowners protect the species better than the Endangered Species Act. These homegrown agreements were praised as “a great example” for conservation efforts. Top officials at Interior and the FWS proclaimed what Americans have known all along: sound solutions that engage locals can protect the species and our jobs.
It was a great victory for conservation and for the economy. Farming, ranching, and energy production continue, while lizard populations remain safe. For a moment, Washington seemed to have learned from past mistakes. It seemed to understand that listening and bringing everyone to the table works better than heavy-handed regulations.
But late last year, the FWS announced plans to list the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Shockingly, the chicken is already protected—under the same agreements that protect the lizard! Either the Administration has forgotten its promises, or it’s more interested in power and politics than the solutions it praised just months ago.
Power and politics often trump common sense in Washington. The FWS faces constant legal pressure from powerful interest groups, like the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians, which have made careers out of suing the government and living on your tax dollars. These groups sue for the listings of thousands of species at a time—not to protect the species, but because the Endangered Species Act is a good way to make money. The push to list the lesser prairie chicken comes straight from a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity. It was not chosen because of science, but to attack energy production, farming, and ranching.
The Endangered Species Act is one of our most heavy-handed, unbending laws. It gives bureaucrats the power to destroy entire economies without a second thought. And these bureaucrats have proven their decisions can cost the middle class dearly, for decades. FWS Director Dan Ashe told me personally that he is not required to consider the jobs eliminated by a listing.
Our jobs, our communities, and our livelihoods are endangered. This is no time to be playing political games with our economy. Tell Washington to stand by its promises, and drop its plans to list the lesser prairie chicken.
