Kevin McCarthy

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

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.

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.

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.

Local, state and regional officials are better equipped and should be given the opportunity to coordinate species management efforts with stakeholders.

In Texas, we believe in sound decisionmaking, private property rights and the fact that government is not the answer to every problem.

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.

Our landowners are responsible for managing the natural resources, which help sustain our state's population of 26 million; feed and clothe the world; provide a healthy environment; and create the jobs that power our dynamic economy.

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

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

The West is on fire, the Forest Service has notified us that they will run out of money in the very near future.

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

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

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

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.

A bill to provide timely medical appointments for veterans.

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

I find, yes, I want more storage, but if we can't get that water through the delta, we are not utilizing the capacities we have now.

When a government cannot provide water to its citizens, that government has failed.

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