The "chicken" in question, the lesser prairie-chicken, is a candidate to be listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — and the public hearing to evaluate that proposal in New Mexico will be held concurrently with the president's State of the Union address.

"The hearing date has long been on the congressman's calendar, since before the announcement of the State of the Union address," Eric Layer, Pearce's spokesperson, said. "This is a very important issue to New Mexico. New Mexico jobs, as well as millions of dollars in state revenue for education, are at stake over this decision. Rep. Pearce believes that it was important to stand with his constituents at the hearing."

Pearce has opposed adding the bird to the list.