Sunflower State 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). The ruling overturns previous actions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that had classified the bird as endangered and threatened.

In a statement released following the court's decision, 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.”

Senator Moran has previously taken legislative steps related to this issue. Earlier in 2025, he joined colleagues in introducing legislation aimed at delisting the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered or threatened under federal law. He also supported measures to strengthen conservation programs such as advocating for enhancements to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which seeks to expand options for producers interested in preserving wildlife habitats.

In May 2023, Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor in favor of a Congressional Review Act Resolution intended to nullify FWS’s listing of the species; while Congress passed this resolution, it was vetoed by President Biden and Moran voted in favor of overriding that veto.

Previously, in July 2021, Sens. Moran and Marshall along with Rep. Mann led requests for an extension of public comment periods regarding proposed listings for the lesser prairie-chicken. In May 2021, Sen. Moran also urged Secretary Deb Haaland of the Department of Interior not to proceed with listing measures under consideration at that time.