Statement from American Wild Horse Conservation on House Rules Committee's Anti-Mustang Slaughter Amendment Decision
Washington, DC (September 7, 2017) - The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) is committed to protecting wild horses and burros on public lands. Recently, the House Rules Committee made a controversial decision that has significant implications for these iconic animals.
Suzanne Roy, Executive Director of the American Wild Horse Conservation, issued the following statement regarding the House Rules Committee's decision to prevent the introduction of an amendment aimed at protecting wild horses in the 2018 appropriations language:
“Last night, the House Rules Committee defied the overwhelming will of the American people by voting to send almost 100,000 healthy wild horses to their graves using taxpayer funds. The majority members of the committee voted to block an amendment supported by 80% of Americans to stop the slaughter of America’s wild horses.
Protecting America’s wild horses has bipartisan support, but the Rules Committee instead chose to side with special interests, horse slaughterers, and their allies to block discussion and voting on this issue.
We want to thank Rep. Dina Titus for her leadership in offering this amendment, Reps. Peter King and Carlos Curbelo for adding bipartisan support. Special thanks to Rep. Jared Polis for his efforts to get his colleagues on the record about whether they support the wholesale slaughter of America’s wild horses, or whether they support commonsense, humane, and effective solutions to managing these iconic animals in the wild.
Attention now turns to the Senate, where we are hopeful that the strong and bipartisan desire of the American people to protect these national icons will be honored.”
Discussion of the amendment and the vote can be seen here. Polling shows that Americans of all political stripes overwhelmingly support protecting America's iconic mustangs and oppose the Interior Department's plan to kill tens of thousands of these cherished animals.
The American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) (formerly known as the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign) is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. Its grassroots mission is endorsed by a coalition of more than 60 horse advocacy, humane, and public interest organizations.