[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4675-S4676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF 
       TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE 
          UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE RELATING TO 
      ``ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS; ENDANGERED 
           SPECIES STATUS FOR NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT''--Veto

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the veto 
messages on S.J. Res. 9 and S.J. Res. 24 be considered as having been 
read and be printed in the Record and spread in full upon the Journal.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The veto messages are ordered to be printed in the Record as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I am returning herewith without my approval S.J. Res. 9, a joint 
resolution that would disapprove the final rule entitled ``Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Lesser Prairie-Chicken; Threatened 
Status with Section 4(d) Rule for the Northern Distinct Population 
Segment and Endangered Status for the Southern Distinct Population 
Segment.''
  The final rule, issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS), provides Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections to an 
American bird species whose historical habitat on the Great Plains has 
diminished by approximately 90 percent and whose populations have 
plummeted toward disappearance. Following a rigorous review of the best 
available scientific and commercial information regarding the past, 
present, and future threats, as well as ongoing conservation efforts, 
the USFWS listed the Southern Distinct Population Segment of the lesser 
prairie-chicken as endangered, and the Northern Distinct Population 
Segment of the lesser prairie-chicken as threatened. The rule also 
affirms and protects locally led and crafted voluntary conservation 
agreements that landowners and land managers have developed in recent 
years, which provide certainty for industry as well as safeguards for 
prairie-chicken populations.
  S.J. Res. 9 would overturn a science-based rulemaking that follows 
the requirements of the law, and thereby undermines the ESA. The lesser 
prairie-chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and 
prairies, making the species an important measure of the overall health 
of America's grasslands. If enacted, S.J. Res. 9 would undermine 
America's proud wildlife conservation traditions, risk the extinction 
of a once-abundant American bird, and create uncertainty for landowners 
and industries who have been working for years to forge the durable, 
locally led conservation strategies that this rule supports.
  Therefore, I am vetoing this resolution.
                                                 Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  
The White House, September 26, 2023.
                                  ____

To the Senate of the United States:
  I am returning herewith without my approval S.J. Res. 24, a joint 
resolution that would disapprove the final rule entitled ``Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for 
Northern Long-Eared Bat.''
  The final rule, issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS), provides Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections to the 
northern long-eared bat, whose populations have been heavily impacted 
by white-nose syndrome. The northern long-eared bat now faces 
extinction due to white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease that has spread 
across approximately 79 percent of the northern long-eared bat's entire 
range and is expected to affect 100 percent of the species' range by 
the end of the decade. Data indicate white-nose syndrome has caused 
estimated declines of 97 to 100 percent in affected northern long-eared 
bat populations. Following a rigorous review of the best available 
scientific and commercial information regarding the past, present, and 
future threats, as well as ongoing conservation efforts, the USFWS 
listed the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species under the 
ESA.

[[Page S4676]]

  S.J. Res. 24 would overturn a science-based rulemaking that follows 
the requirements of the law, and thereby undermines the ESA. Bats are 
critical to healthy, functioning ecosystems and contribute at least $3 
billion annually to the United States agriculture economy through pest 
control and pollination. If enacted, S.J. Res. 24 would undermine 
America's proud wildlife conservation traditions and risk extinction of 
the species.
  Therefore, I am vetoing this resolution.
                                                 Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  
                                   The White House, September 26, 2023.

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, 
the veto messages with respect to S.J. Res. 9 and S.J. Res. 24 be 
considered at times to be determined by the majority leader in 
concurrence with the Republican leader prior to October 4; that there 
be up to 2 hours for debate equally divided between the two leaders or 
their designees on each resolution; that the Senate then vote on 
passage of each joint resolution, the objections of the President to 
the contrary notwithstanding.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________