Democrats on the House Armed Services have gotten creative in mocking the effort to portray a sage grouse as a threat to military training and expansion.

WASHINGTON — For the second year in a row, the lesser prairie chicken — a bird whose habitat includes western Oklahoma — has become embroiled in the national security debate.

The House Armed Services Committee this week approved an amendment by Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Tulsa, that would prevent listing the bird as threatened or endangered for the next five years. The provision is now part of the annual defense bill, expected to be considered soon by the full House.

The defense bill approved by the full House last year included a similar provision, but it was removed before the final bill was sent to the president.

During committee consideration, Bridenstine said the amendment — which also removes the American burying beetle from Endangered Species Act listing — was “critical for military installations in my state of Oklahoma.”