Press Releases

Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Tim Griffin (AR-2), Steve Womack (AR-3), and Tom Cotton (AR-4) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to extend the comment period on the endangered species classification of the Northern Long-Eared (NLE) bat:

“We’re pleased the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listened to our concerns and granted our request for a six month extension of the comment period.  An endangered species classification of the northern-long eared bat could have a devastating impact on several of Arkansas’s most important industries, and we must be sure to resolve all questions surrounding the designation.  In the coming months, we will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor this matter.”

Background: Earlier this month, Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Tim Griffin (AR-2), Steve Womack (AR-3), and Tom Cotton (AR-4) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, which expressed concern over the proposed endangered species classification of the NLE bat and requested a six month extension of the comment period on the endangered species classification. 

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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