[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RESTORE OUR AMERICAN MUSTANGS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 17, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1018. 
Current practices by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to maintain 
the population of our nation's wild horses and burros have been 
ineffective, inhumane and expensive.
  This bill will significantly curb the costly and inhumane practice of 
rounding up our nation's wild horses and burros into crowded short- and 
long-term holding pens. In their report, ``Effective Long-Term Options 
Needed to Manage Unadoptable Wild Horses,'' the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed that the bulk of budget 
shortfalls faced by the Bureau of Land Management have resulted from 
current management methods that move wild horses and burros from Herd 
Management Areas (HMA) to long- and short-term holding areas. The 
report affirms that BLM will face budget shortfalls if long-term 
corrections to current management practices are not put in place.
  In the past, I have advocated for significant changes to current herd 
management practices to ensure that long-term reduction of wild horse 
and burro populations on public lands is not achieved by slaughter. 
Such concerns were expressed by the public and Members of Congress 
alike as recently as last summer.
  The slaughter of these animals is an unacceptable solution that 
jeopardizes public trust and undermines congressional intent. The 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has never exercised its authority to 
slaughter wild horses and burros. Financial shortfalls are not 
sufficient reason to end the BLM's good record. As such, I strongly 
support the effective and humane actions this bill has taken to replace 
current practices.
  Under this bill the Bureau of Land Management will identify 
appropriate public lands and sanctuaries for our nation's wild horses 
and burros. With passage of this bill, most of the beautiful and 
treasured wild horses and burros currently in holding pens will be 
released to roam on public lands. Additionally, the BLM's adoption 
program for wild horses and burros will be strengthened to improve 
efforts to increase adoption by qualified individuals. Furthermore, the 
bill wisely includes a provision that will help protect threatened and 
endangered species by requiring BLM to ensure a ``thriving natural 
ecological balance'' on public lands designated for wild horses and 
burros.
  I strongly support this important bill and urge my colleagues to vote 
in favor.

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