2022: Schweikert Voted Against 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, Schweikert voted against 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: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Voted To Disapprove 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, Schweikert voted for 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: Schweikert Voted To Disapprove 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, Schweikert voted for 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]