Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House Armed Services Committee has approved a provision in the annual defense authorization bill that would prohibit the Obama Administration from declaring the sage grouse an endangered species for 10 years.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) is a strong supporter of the provision, and urged the Committee to include it in its final draft.
“A federal listing of the sage grouse could shut down countless ranches and rural communities throughout eastern Oregon. The impacts on our economy could make the spotted owl look like child’s play. And it could also severely harm our military readiness and national security,” Walden said.
“I was proud to work with the House Armed Services Committee to include this common-sense provision in the annual defense bill. A listing delay of 10 years would give states like Oregon time to implement locally-driven management plans without heavy-handed federal mandates.”
The sage grouse provision was included in the defense bill because an endangered species listing could impact the military’s ability to train on key lands throughout the United States, potentially harming military readiness and national security.
“Efforts to protect the greater sage grouse under the federal Endangered Species Act could hurt training operations at numerous U.S. military facilities in the West, according to a new report by the Army…
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