2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Reauthorized The
Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Through FY 2030 And Raised The
Federal Cost Share For Grant Projects To Serve Small, Rural Or
Disadvantages Communities To 90% Of The Project Cost. In July 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment
to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which
would "reauthorize the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program through
fiscal 2030 and increase the federal cost share for grant projects under
the program that serve a small, rural or disadvantaged community to 90
percent of the total project cost." The vote was on the adoption of an
amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote 220-206. [House
Vote 347, 7/14/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
7/14/22; Congressional
Actions, H.Amdt.
286;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7900]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Bar The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service From
Providing Financial Aid To Foreign Security Forces That Have Committed
Human Rights Violations. In July 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Advancing Human Rights-Centered
International Conservation Act of 2022, which would "prohibit the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service from providing financial assistance or support
to any unit of a foreign security force if the agency or the State
Department has credible information that the unit has committed a gross
human rights violation, unless the recipient is taking steps to address
and prevent future violations. It would require a number of
administrative procedures to prevent funding for entities disqualified
for funding, including to require the service to establish and
periodically update procedures to identify human rights violators;
incorporate into the terms of agreement for conservation grants that the
recipient will not commit, fund or support human rights violations; and
perform regular audits of funding recipients. It would require
recipients to refer all credible information of human rights violations
in connection with the financial award to the service." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote 379-43, thus the bill was
sent to the Senate. The Senate did not take substantive action on the
bill. [House Vote 377,
7/19/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/19/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7025]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Disapproving A U.S. Fish And Wildlife
Service Rule That Designated Two Populations Of The Lesser
Prairie-Chicken As "Endangered" And "Threatened" Under The Endangered
Species Act. In July 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against a joint resolution that would "provide for
congressional disapproval of the December 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service rule that established protections for the lesser prairie chicken
under the Endangered Species Act, designating the southern population
segment of the species as 'endangered' and the northern population
segment as 'threatened.' The rule took effect on March 27, 2023. Under
the provisions of the joint resolution, the Fish and Wildlife Service
rule would have no force or effect." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the resolution by a vote of 221 to 206, thus the resolution was
sent to the President. [House Vote 381,
7/27/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/27/23;
Congressional Actions, S.J. Res.
9]
The Resolution Would Repeal A U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Rule
That Listed Two Populations Of The Lesser Prairie-Chicken, A Grouse
Species, Under The Endangered Species Act. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "By a vote of 221-206, the House passed a
measure (S J Res 9) that would repeal the rule finalized by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service in November listing two populations of the
lesser prairie-chicken, a species of grouse slightly larger than a
pigeon, under the law known as the Endangered Species Act. Four
Democrats joined 217 Republicans to support the measure. One
Republican --- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania --- was
opposed." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Rule Designated As "Endangered"
The Southern Population Of The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Native To
Eastern New Mexico And Western Texas And "Threatened" To The
Northern Population Native To Colorado, Oklahoma And Texas.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Under the rule, the southern
population of the lesser prairie-chicken native to eastern New
Mexico and western Texas was given the higher listing of endangered,
while the northern population native to portions of Colorado,
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas was listed as threatened."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Emphasized That The Lesser
Prairie-Chicken's Population To 32,000 Has Decimated Due To Habitat
Loss And Fragmentation. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
Fish and Wildlife Service said that the species once possibly
numbered in the millions, but its numbers have been decimated by
habitat loss and fragmentation. Aerial surveys conducted from 2012
through 2022 estimated a five-year average population of just over
32,000." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
The American Farm Bureau And The Permian Basin Petroleum
Association Were Concerned The Protections To The Lesser
Prairie-Chicken Would Cause Economic Activity In The Species'
Habitats. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Groups including
the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Permian Basin Petroleum
Association expressed concern that extending protections to the
species would harm economic activity in the birds' habitats."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
May 2023: President Biden Threatened To Veto The Resolution.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Biden said he would veto the
measure in a May 3 statement of administration policy."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
Many Lawmakers Opposed The Rule Due To Concerns That It Would Make
It Harder To Use The Species' Habitat For Other Purposes, Such As
Farming, Oil And Gas Drilling Or The Construction Of Transmission
Lines. According to Congressional Quarterly, "However many have
opposed listing due to concerns it would make it difficult to use
its habitat for other purposes. The joint resolution's sponsor, Sen.
Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said the listing would threaten the
viability of farming, oil and gas drilling and the construction of
transmission lines across the five states. He said the service
should instead look toward voluntary agreements with landowners to
ensure the bird's survival." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/3/23]
Fossil Fuel And Farming Industries Opposed Listing The Lesser
Prairie-Chicken On The Endangered List, Arguing It Would Harm The
Ability For Them To Do Business In Areas Of The Western U.S.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bird had been viewed as a
candidate for listing for decades. Representatives of the fossil
fuel and farming industries, however, raised concerns that a listing
would affect their ability to do business across wide portions of
the western U.S." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/3/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Disapproving A U.S. Fish And Wildlife
Service Rule That Designated The Northern Long-Eared Bat As "Endangered"
Under The Endangered Species Act. In July 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against a joint resolution
that would "provide for congressional disapproval of the November 2022
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that increased protections for the
northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act, changing its
classification from 'threatened' to 'endangered.' The rule took effect
on Jan. 30, 2023. Under the provisions of the joint resolution, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service rule would have no force or effect." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 220 to 209,
thus the resolution was sent to the President. [House Vote 382,
7/27/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/27/23;
Congressional Actions, S.J. Res.
24]
The Rule Upgraded The Northern Long-Eared Bat's Listing As
"Threatened" To "Endangered." According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The House also passed a joint resolution (S J Res 24)
that would similarly block a rule upgrading the northern long-eared
bat's listing from threatened to endangered. Two Democrats --- Henry
Cuellar of Texas and Jared Golden of Maine --- joined the majority
Republicans in the 220-209 vote. One Republican --- Fitzpatrick ---
voted against the resolution." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
The Northern Long-Eared Bat Was Designed As Threatened In 2015 Due
To A Disease Spread Causing White-Nose Syndrome, Which Led To A
Large Population Decrease. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The species was first listed as threatened in 2015 due in large
part to a disease spread by the growth of a nonnative fungus causing
white-nose syndrome. This has continued to spread in the intervening
years and caused steep population decline, according to the Fish and
Wildlife Service." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
May 2023: President Biden Threatened To Veto The Resolution.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Biden said in a statement of
administration policy on May 11 that he would veto the resolution."
[Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]
Opponents Of The Rule Claimed That Enhanced Protections Would
Potentially Delay Necessary Infrastructure, Despite Infrastructure
Projects Not Having Much To Do With The Species' Decline.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Opponents of the bat's
listing say that increased protections have the potential to delay
necessary infrastructure, even though these projects have little to
do with the species' decline." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/27/23]