{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-endangered-species-act-hearing-examines-sue-and-settle-practices", "Cramer: Endangered Species Act Hearing Examines Sue-and-Settle Practices", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "cramer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Kevin Cramer said a hearing held today by the House Committee on Natural Resources is another important step toward improving the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to better serve its purpose of protecting species. The hearing examined the ongoing practice of \u201csue-and-settle\u201d lawsuits driven by environmental groups launching lawsuits against the federal government for the purpose of achieving settlements behind closed doors.\nCramer is a member of the Natural Resources Committee which has held five hearings in an ongoing effort to reform the ESA. In September, the Committee held a field hearing in Billings, Montana requested by Cramer and colleagues to examine the potential impacts of the Greater Sage Grouse receiving an endangered species listing. Between 1999 and 2003, environmental groups filed eight petitions to add an ESA listing for the Greater Sage Grouse, which makes part of its habitat in southwestern North Dakota. Such a listing could have severe repercussions on domestic energy production, livestock, and outdoor recreation activities in the state.\n\u201cThe endless stream of frivolous lawsuits aimed at exploiting the ESA has crippled its ability to protect the interests of both its intended animal species, and people. We are taking a careful, systematic approach to reform with the goal of restoring common sense species protection. These changes will have the greatest impact on states like North Dakota which contain vast regions of habitat.\u201d\nWitnesses at today\u2019s hearing drew attention to the success of local conservation efforts and the negative impact of deadlines imposed by closed-door mega-settlements with litigious environmental groups who are often driving federal listing decisions.\nThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is also proposing to list the Dakota skipper as a threatened species and the Powerhiek skipperling as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.\u00a0Public comments can be submitted to the FWS on the proposed listings and critical habitat designations by following the instructions seen here.\nCongressman Cramer serves on the Natural Resources and Science, Space and Technology Committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-endangered-species-act-hearing-examines-sue-and-settle-practices"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7897540237754583, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}