The LIZARD Act

On the campaign trail, President Biden promised to kill the fossil fuel industry, and that’s about the only promise we can count on him to keep. 

This week I introduced the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling (LIZARD) Act to strike President Biden's latest attack on oil & gas by listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species so he can shut down drilling in the Permian. 

Not only is listing the sagebrush lizard under the ESA an incredible threat to oil, natural gas, wind, and solar production developed in the Permian Basin, but it is unnecessary. As of December 31, 2022, through state and private conservation efforts in New Mexico alone, 1,905,120 acres have been enrolled in a Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA) and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) by the ranching community and 2,230,066 acres have been enrolled in the CCA and CCAA by the oil and gas industry to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard.

These enrollments have resulted in a net acreage conservation gain for the species’ habitat. The associated financial contributions have helped fund dozens of reclamation and conservation programs to support the species while still affording the development of natural resources and human existence in the region.

The President wants to control private property in Texas. Not on my watch. My legislation protects energy security and jobs in the Permian by nullifying his latest attack.