House Republicans on a conference committee working on a major defense spending bill are vowing to block any effort to place protections for a Western bird over that of national security.
“This presidential administration, along with special interest groups, are attempting to impede military training and limit public use of public lands through false claims of negative impacts to the sage grouse bird,” said Rep. Paul Cook, R-Calif., after being named to the conference committee Friday for the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
A number of members from the House Natural Resources Committee were named to serve on the conference committee, including Chairman Rob Bishop of Utah and Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-Nev.
Bishop and Cook are staunch opponents of federal sage grouse protection plans. Hardy has tried to work within the confines of the protections.
Overall, the chicken-like bird has been a thorn in the side for many Republican lawmakers from the West, where the sage grouse is seen as an impediment for farmers, ranchers and energy development.
“The fact is the sage grouse is not endangered, but our national security would be endangered if we allow a chicken-like bird to override the security needs of our nation,” Cook said. “This year’s NDAA contains language protecting military training and maintaining access. My primary goal as a member of this committee is to ensure this language stays in the House NDAA as it moves through negotiations.”
Bishop said he would use the conference process as an opportunity “to address a range of existing regulatory and land-use failures that currently undermine military readiness.”
Hardy’s district is home to both the Nellis and Creech Air Force bases, as well as the Hawthorne Army Depot.
“I am eager to work together so that we can adequately restore our nation’s military readiness while also being good stewards of our God-given resources,” Hardy said.
Hardy introduced a bill last month that he said would help reduce wildfires, while improving and protecting the habitat for the greater sage grouse in the eastern part of his state.
