House Passes Appropriations Bill Impacting Wild Horses

Bill prohibits Forest Service from selling wild horses for slaughter, but includes funding intended for a BLM mass wild horse roundup and sterilization plan.

WASHINGTON, DC (June 25, 2019) – Today, the House of Representatives approved legislative and report language in the FY 2020 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill related to wild horse and burro management.

The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) reiterated its strong opposition to the House’s decision to appropriate $6 million to begin implementation of the plan being pushed by special interest lobbying groups.

“We continue to strongly oppose this plan that will ultimately achieve the livestock industry’s long-held goal of eradicating wild free-roaming horse and burro populations from the American West,” said Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the AWHC. “We call on U.S. Senators to continue their strong record of protecting America’s wild horses and we vow to work with them to ensure that these iconic animals are protected for generations to come in the wild on our public lands.”

On a positive note, prompted by an imminent threat of slaughter for wild horses from the Modoc National Forest in Northern California, the House included appropriations language sought by AWHC to prohibit the U.S. Forest Service from selling wild horses and burros for slaughter. (Existing law already prohibits the BLM from selling wild horses and burros for slaughter.)

“We thank House Natural Resources Chairman Raul Grijalva and Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus for championing this crucial provision to block the Forest Service from selling wild horses in California and elsewhere in the West for slaughter,” Roy continued.

The Senate is expected to take up its version of Fiscal Year 2020 spending legislation later this summer or fall.

More information on this legislation:

• House Appropriations Committee Approves Legislation to Begin Implementation of Dangerous Wild Horse Management Plan
• Nevada Rep. Titus Leads Effort to Protect Forest Service Wild Horses from Slaughter
• House Natural Resources Chair Grijalva Adds Powerful Voice to Save Wild Horses from Slaughter

The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading wild horse protection organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage.