Political Quotes

“the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the lesser prairie chicken should be listed in a number of States, including Kansas, as a threatened species. The lesser prairie chicken has had a significant history in our State and a significant population of birds, but as a result of a drought, the habitat for the lesser prairie chicken and other wildlife has been diminished and the number of birds has decreased. The consequences of listing the lesser prairie chicken that results from a drought is so dramatic and so damaging to the Kansas economy and to the farmers and ranchers and the use of their lands, to the oil and gas industry and the exploration of oil and gas, and to the utility industry in regard to the production and transmission of electricity that this amendment is necessary to set aside that listing as a threatened species and to allow interest holders in Kansas to come together and find a commonsense solution based upon sound science to protect the habitat of this bird. This is not just a Kansas issue, and in fact, this species is only the precursor to problems others will have in their States. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from New Mexico.”