A Texas lawmaker on Friday introduced legislation to overturn the Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing of the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered.
Citing what he termed an “incredible threat to energy production” in the Permian Basin, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) put together a Congressional Review Act bid that would nullify the lizard’s Endangered Species Act listing.
“Listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species is another effort by the Biden Administration to shut down drilling in the Permian Basin,” Pfluger said in a statement, adding that his measure would block “President Biden’s attempt to use a lizard as a weapon against the oil & gas industry.”
Pfluger’s measure, called a joint resolution, is the latest effort by GOP lawmakers to use the CRA to roll back environmental legislation that Biden has signed into law. It is likely to enjoy support among energy-minded House members, and it secured the quick endorsement of industry leaders.
