Kevin McCarthy

I support the reforms put forth in H.R. 4284 that would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to coordinate with interested states on a 'State Protective Action' (SPA) and approve it if it meets established criteria.

It is amazing what can happen when the Federal Government comes and acts as a partner.

If over-zealous enforcement of Federal laws hinder, disrupt or further burden our farmers and ranchers, we will not be able to sustainably raise the crops and livestock necessary to feed the 7 billion people currently on our planet.

the Act needs to be updated with what we have learned in the last 50 years or so about dealing with endangered species.

The only way to understand the full costs of critical habitat designations is to have a completely transparent economic impact study.

If our goal is to preserve the species, shouldn't a measure of success be the number of species propagated to a delisting level?

I don't know a single person who would consider that a desirable outcome.

This litigious model, by so called non-profit organizations, has not only harmed the American economy by nearly shutting down our Primary and Secondary sectors of Industry.

bipartisan, bicameral legislation that is supported by the President of the United States.

We now need Congress to exercise some common sense and fix these problems.

The saga of the lesser prairie chicken, I think, is a prime example of what an SPA could prevent in the future.

Greater state and local authority over species and habitat management is one way to fix the ESA.

It's clear the system isn't working as designed if voluntary conservation plans like the range-wide plan, which was supported by FWS, is not enough to prevent a listing.

When you only have a 2 percent recovery rate, that is not a good thing.

Let me be blunt; in my view, the species most threatened here is the American farmer and rancher.

In closing, I urge Congress to take action to provide true relief to the people of Texas and the United States.

there is a real-time conflict between Oregon and Washington about spills on the Columbia River.

We are choosing to overreach, to look for opportunities to stick it to other folks that are also affected by this drought.

Nothing can turn a life upside down more quickly than identity theft.

We cannot reauthorize the status quo.

the time has come for Congress to address these issues in one package.

President Obama needs to learn a simple lesson: Saying something doesn't make it true.

Thank you for allowing me to testify on legislation I introduced, H.R. 2661, the Veterans Access to Timely Medical Appointments Act.

A bill to provide timely medical appointments for veterans.

The sad part is the House has done the work. The Senate just stood there defensively in the face of the drought.