Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen Beef Association officials are pleased with House passage last week of the National Defense Reauthorization Act. Public Lands Council’s Executive Director Dustin Van Liew says that measure contains important components blocking the listing of the greater sage grouse as an Endangered Species and delisting the Prairie Chicken.

Van Liew says the House legislation sets and important precedent for land use and cattle grazing in all states not just those which are populated by the sage grouse and prairie chicken.

Van Liew says the Senate’s defense bill does not have provisions dealing with these species but his group is hoping to work with Senate House conferees when they put together the final legislation.

If the Sage Grouse is listed under the ESA it would prevent livestock grazing on 186 million acres of both private and federal lands.