U.S. Representative August Pfluger of Texas's 11th Congressional District has expressed concerns over certain endangered species listings, stating they have negatively impacted the American energy sector. He suggested that removing these species from the list could aid in maintaining U.S. energy dominance. Pfluger made these remarks in a letter dated April 1 to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
"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," said Rep. August Pfluger, U.S. Rep from the 11th District of Texas. "With the right approach, we can achieve lasting conservation results without burdening the very communities that have been instrumental in protecting these species. 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."
In their correspondence, Representatives Pfluger and Tracey Mann urged both the Trump administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) and Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) from the endangered species list. They argued that these listings have created unnecessary regulatory challenges for rural communities, impacting farmers, ranchers, and energy producers despite successful conservation efforts at state and private levels.
According to a press release on Pfluger's website, the Biden administration's decision to place these species on the endangered list resulted in an increase in the Lesser Prairie Chicken population and expanded conservation areas for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.
The letter highlighted that listing the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard as endangered specifically affects the Permian Basin, which is considered a critical area for America's energy production. The letter emphasized that balancing responsible land use with wildlife protection is essential for maintaining environmental stewardship alongside America's energy needs.
Additionally, Representatives Pfluger and Mann introduced legislation known as the "Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act" aimed at removing these designations from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Mann said, "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."
Pfluger is currently serving his third term in Congress representing 20 counties within Texas's eleventh Congressional District. He holds positions as Chairman of both the Republican Study Committee and House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
