Photo credit: www.foxnews.com
Republican Lawmakers Push for Legislation to Delist Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
EXCLUSIVE: A group of Republican lawmakers has introduced a new bill aimed at overturning regulatory measures employed by the Biden administration that restrict oil production. The proposed legislation, known as the “LIZARDS Act of 2025,” seeks to remove the dunes sagebrush lizard from the endangered species list. Advocates argue that this listing has been deployed as a means to curtail energy extraction in key areas, particularly Texas’ Permian Basin, which serves as a significant hub for the oil and gas sector.
Leading this initiative are Rep. August Pfluger from Texas and Rep. Tracey Mann from Kansas. Pfluger remarked, “Former President Biden initiated a campaign targeting the fossil fuel industry, implementing harmful policies like the inclusion of the dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act. This has directly affected our dedicated workforce in the energy sector.”
GOP LAWMAKER SEEKS TO SLAM BRAKES ON BIDEN’S ‘WOKE AND WASTEFUL’ EV TAX CREDIT
The bill’s proponents assert that the listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard, along with other species, undermines local conservation efforts in West Texas. Pfluger continued, stating, “This listing was misguided and contradicts significant private conservation initiatives in the region.”
In further support of their cause, Pfluger and Mann have reached out to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, requesting the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider the statuses of both the dunes sagebrush lizard and the lesser prairie chicken.
The lawmakers emphasized that “Reversing these listings would acknowledge the success of local conservation efforts and provide regulatory certainty for the communities and industries that rely on access to these lands.”
AZ SENATE LEADER URGES BURGUM TO END BIDEN-OBAMA LAND GRABS OF URANIUM SITES
The dunes sagebrush lizard was designated as endangered in May 2024, following the lesser prairie chicken’s listing in 2022. Pfluger stated, “From the outset, President Biden has utilized every avenue available to undermine the livelihoods of energy and agricultural producers in the United States.”
Highlighting the local communities’ reliance on natural resources, Pfluger asserted that federal regulations imposed by the previous administration often ignored the realities faced by residents. “This bill aims to restore authority to the local communities that are affected by these federal decisions and alleviate the regulatory burdens placed upon them by Biden’s administration,” he said. “We are eager to collaborate with President Trump and Secretary Burgum to reverse these detrimental listings and restore the energy independence that millions of Americans voted for last November.”
The Trump administration previously implemented substantial changes to energy policies, particularly in Alaska, declaring a national energy emergency and abolishing specific regulations concerning natural gas production. These efforts were aimed at bolstering domestic energy growth and reducing regulatory constraints on the industry.
Source
www.foxnews.com