Republicans are scrutinizing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) through a series of hearings and bills coming out of the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works.

These bills include legislation focused on the Sage Grouse and Mule Deer as well as a bill that would require the Department of the Interior to publish the reason a species is being deemed endangered or threatened online.

A hearing held Wednesday focused on listings of the numerous species on the endangered species list.

“The cost,” Committee Chairman James Inhofe told The Daily Caller Wednesday, “…and the fact that we never get de-listings [of species] was the thrust of the meeting. There were five pieces of legislation and each one of those authors was recognized for what they were trying to do.”

The committee’s ranking member — Democrat California Senator Barbara Boxer — criticized Republican efforts saying in a statement:

“The ESA has a strong record of success, and without it, we might have lost the very symbol of our nation — the bald eagle. And the ESA helped to save other species, including the lesser prairie chicken, the whooping crane, the California condor, the brown pelican, and the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. These species are part of America’s heritage. They are just as much a part of our heritage as our magnificent rivers, streams, mountains, and forests.”

Further hearings focused on the ESA will happen in the near future, Inhofe said, noting that he may schedule hearings dealing with the plight of farmers and ranchers who are often affected by ESA regulations.

“We’re going to try to be promoting legislation. We’re going to try to be re-inserting real science. We’re going to try to stop the sue and settle events that are taking place and try to do something about the de-listings.” He added, “We specifically talked about the Burying Beetle. That was listed in 1989. It’s no longer a problem, yet they never de-list. That was the thrust of it.”