By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
Congress created the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973 to help prevent species of fish, wildlife and plants with critically low population levels from becoming extinct.
While that remains the end goal of legislators and federal government agencies, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, who represents Texas’ Congressional District 11, said the ESA needs to be modernized to prevent it from being weaponized against the agriculture and energy sectors.
“Extreme environmental groups wield the outdated Endangered Species Act as a weapon,” he said. “They use it against agriculture. They use it against energy. And we’ve seen this play out numerous times in my district, which includes the Permian Basin, with past attempts to list the sagebrush lizard and current threats from the Biden administration to list the lesser prairie-chicken.”
To combat those using the ESA to hinder those industries, Pfluger introduced the Listing Reform Act.
The bill introduces what he calls “commonsense protections” for endangered species while preventing overregulation. The federal government also would be required to analyze the actual costs of ESA listings on communities and critical industries.
“This takes input from stakeholders and does what all of us in the agriculture business have been doing for generations—which is truly conserve and preserve,” Pfluger said. “It takes into account what folks are thinking and how they believe the species should be dealt with. There’s no one closer to the issue than landowners.”
He felt it necessary to draft the legislation in response to “green agendas” being promoted by Democratic lawmakers, he said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. Currently, there are eight other members of Congress cosponsoring the bill including Texas Reps. Michael Burgess and Ronny Jackson.
The bill was written after meetings and input from organizations, stakeholders and agencies in order to “really think things through,” he noted. Protecting endangered species remains the end goal, but through the lens of common sense.
Numerous stakeholders across the agriculture and energy industries, including Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), support the proposal.
“TFB appreciates Congressman August Pfluger for introducing the Listing Reform Act, which creates commonsense solutions to streamline the Endangered Species Act,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “Easing regulatory burdens on farmers, ranchers and landowners has long been a priority for Farm Bureau, and we are proud Congressman Pfluger is working to help achieve this critically important goal. TFB looks forward to working with him and other leaders of Congress to pass this legislation.”
In addition to TFB, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Permian Basin Petroleum Association, National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition and Texas Cattle Feeders Association have voiced their support.
A press release from Pfluger’s office announcing the legislation can be found here.