AWHC Government Relations: Update from Capitol Hill

September 9, 2020 - As Congress reconvenes, significant legislative issues are on the agenda, including a potential COVID stimulus package and federal government funding beyond the September 30 deadline. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) is closely monitoring developments that impact wild horses and burros.

Interior Appropriations Bill

The Interior Appropriations bill, one of the 12 appropriations subcommittee bills, passed the House this summer with an AWHC-supported amendment. This amendment mandates the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to allocate $11 million for humane PZP fertility control, representing half of the new funds received last year. This funding was initially intended for mass roundups and removals but now requires humane fertility control if the Senate and Congress pass the bill.

Continuing Resolution and Funding

Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have tentatively agreed to continue funding federal agencies beyond the September 30 deadline, reducing the risk of a government shutdown. A Continuing Resolution (CR) is expected to last until December, maintaining current spending levels without new language, such as the House-passed PZP language, except for necessary adjustments.

If a CR is adopted in September, likely funding the government until a post-election session in December, there remains an opportunity to pursue final legislation including the PZP/$11 million. If extended into next year, the PZP language would not become law in 2020, but momentum for its reinstatement in next year's Interior spending bill would be strong.

Advocacy and Legislative Efforts

We continue to oppose BLM's plan to remove nearly all wild free-roaming horses from public lands. Our efforts are supported by Congressional champions, including Natural Resources Chairman Raul Grijalva, Public Lands Subcommittee Chairwoman Debra Haaland, Representative Dina Titus, and Congressman Steve Cohen.

Following successful efforts last year to require BLM to submit a detailed plan to Congress, which was not satisfactorily done, and the House-passed PZP language, the tide is turning. More Members and staff are showing interest and willingness to join us in saving America's irreplaceable wild horses and burros.