From October 07, 2022 post.

Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) led a letter with GOP colleagues to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Martha Williams, urging the agency to stop restricting the Lakes States Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) for bat species that could devastate rural economies, and instead let our local experts manage our forests.

"State and local officials, and not the Federal government, understand how to manage their wildlife populations," said Congressman Stauber. "New restrictions put forward by the USFWS are just another example of the Federal government stepping over local officials. The science is clear: the very bat species being targeted by these restrictions are not harmed by sustainable forest management, nor is there any connection to human involvement regarding their primary threat, a disease that healthy forest management has been proven to help mitigate. 

"The only result we will see from these misguided restrictions is devastation to rural economies and local family logging businesses. My colleagues and I urge USFWS, state and local leaders and industry to work together on the Lakes States HCP and avoid adding restrictions that could be economically and ecologically harmful."

Joining Congressman Stauber on the letter are Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-01), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-04), Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01), Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01), and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04).

Stakeholder organizations supporting the letter include the American Loggers Council, Federal Forest Resource Coalition, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Forest Resources Association, Minnesota Forest Industries, Minnesota Timber Producers Association, Minnesota Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers.

In June, Congressman Stauber introduced the ESA Flexibility Act to grant landowners leeway and the USFWS flexibility when dealing with endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including the northern long-eared bat.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Original source can be found here.