NW Kansas News

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has expressed support for a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to remove the lesser prairie-chicken from its 2022 listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In his statement, Sen. Moran said: “The decision to list the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered and threatened species three years ago, despite voluntary efforts by landowners to protect the bird’s habitat, put burdensome regulations on Kansas producers. The court’s ruling to remove the listing is an encouraging step forward, and I will continue to support local efforts to promote voluntary solutions that will protect the habitat of the lesser prairie-chicken without placing unnecessary burdens on our agricultural community.”

Sen. Moran has taken several actions related to this issue in recent years. He joined colleagues in introducing legislation aimed at strengthening the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to increase conservation opportunities for producers who want to preserve wildlife habitats. In January 2025, he also participated in introducing legislation seeking to delist the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered and threatened under federal law.

Previously, on May 3, 2023, Sen. Moran delivered remarks supporting a Congressional Review Act Resolution intended to overturn the ESA listing of the species; although Congress passed it, President Biden vetoed it and Sen. Moran voted in favor of overriding that veto.

Additionally, in July 2021 Sens. Moran and Marshall along with Rep. Mann led a request for an extension of public comment regarding proposed changes affecting this species’ status. Earlier that year, Sen. Moran joined others urging Interior Secretary Deb Haaland not to add the bird to protected lists under federal law.