[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9760-H9761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SUPPORTING NATIONAL WILD HORSE AND BURRO ADOPTION DAY

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 688) expressing support for the goals and 
ideals of the first annual National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day 
taking place on September 26, 2009.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 688

       Whereas in 1971, in Public Law 92-195 (commonly known as 
     the ``Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act'') (16 U.S.C. 
     1331 et seq.), Congress declared that wild free-roaming 
     horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and 
     pioneer spirit of the West;
       Whereas, under that Act, the Secretary of the Interior and 
     the Secretary of Agriculture have responsibility for the 
     humane capture, removal, and adoption of wild horses and 
     burros;
       Whereas the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest 
     Service are the Federal agencies responsible for carrying out 
     the provisions of the Act;
       Whereas a number of private organizations will assist with 
     the adoption of excess wild horses and burros, in conjunction 
     with the first National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day; 
     and
       Whereas there are approximately 31,000 wild horses in 
     short-term and long-term holding facilities, with 18,000 
     young horses awaiting adoption: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals of a National Wild Horse and Burro 
     Adoption Day to be held annually in coordination with the 
     Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture;
       (2) recognizes that creating a successful adoption model 
     for wild horses and burros is consistent with Public Law 92-
     195 (commonly known as the ``Wild Free-Roaming Horses and 
     Burros Act'') (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) and beneficial to the 
     long-term interests of the people of the United States in 
     protecting wild horses and burros; and
       (3) encourages citizens of the United States to adopt a 
     wild horse or burro so as to own a living symbol of the 
     historic and pioneer spirit of the West.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution that is now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 688, introduced by the gentlewoman 
from Nevada, Representative Dina Titus, expresses support for the goals 
and the ideals of the first annual National Wild Horse and Burro 
Adoption Day, which takes place on September 26, 2009.
  In 1971, Congress passed the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act, 
which sought to prevent the disappearance of these horses and burros 
from the western range and created the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption 
Program.
  H. Res. 688 supports the first annual National Wild Horse and Burro 
Adoption Day. It recognizes that a successful adoption program is vital 
to managing these animals, and that more must be done to promote the 
program and educate the public. I would also note that in support of 
the goals of that 1971 act, I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 1018, 
the Restore our American Mustangs, or ROAM Act, introduced by House 
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rahall and passed by this House in 
July.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 688 is important in drawing attention 
to the vital role of adoption in saving America's wild horses and 
burros. I commend Representative Titus for shining a light on this 
important event, and I ask my colleagues to support passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 688, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to commend the Nevada delegation for this resolution urging 
the public to adopt the 18,000 wild horses waiting for adoption. 
However, it is a little confusing. Just 2 months ago, both the 
Democratic sponsor and cosponsor of this bill voted in favor of H.R. 
1018, a bill that even the Obama administration said would make the 
problem worse, not better.
  I am also perplexed, with Nevada's unemployment rate at 13.2 percent, 
how both of our Democratic colleagues from that hard-hit State could 
vote for a bill that would spend close to a billion dollars to expand a 
failed welfare program for wild horses.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
Representative Titus, the sponsor of this resolution.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and 
subcommittee Chairman Grijalva for bringing this timely resolution to 
the floor today.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 688, a resolution I introduced 
with my colleagues from the Nevada congressional delegation in support 
of the goals and ideals of National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day.
  Wild horses and burros are living symbols of the independent, free 
spirit of the American West. My State of Nevada is home to more than 
half the wild horses in the country, and our State quarter depicts a 
trio of wild mustangs.
  The Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which became law in 
1971, gave the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior 
responsibility for the humane capture, removal, and adoption of wild 
horses and burros. The agencies ensure that healthy herds thrive on 
healthy rangelands. But because these animals have no natural 
predators, herd sizes can increase dramatically in very short periods 
of time.
  In order to maintain balance on the rangelands, wild horses and 
burros are gathered and offered for adoption and sale. Currently, there 
are some 31,000 wild horses in short-term and long-term holding 
facilities, with 18,000 young horses available for adoption.

                              {time}  1500

  Although reasonable people might disagree on the appropriate number 
of

[[Page H9761]]

horses that should be allowed to roam free, ranchers, wild horse 
advocates, environmentalists, animal lovers, and taxpayers alike can 
agree that there is a pressing need to improve upon the adoption 
programs to remove horses from these holding facilities and place them 
in good adoptive homes.
  On September 26, 2009, a number of private organizations will assist 
with the adoption of excess wild horses and burros in conjunction with 
the first National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day. State BLM 
offices, as well as rescue centers, wild horse groups, 
environmentalists, and volunteers from all walks of life will be 
engaged in activities leading up to and on this important day.
  BLM, the American Horse Protection Association, the Mustang Heritage 
Foundation, the Humane Society of the United States, and Wild Horses 
4Ever all support National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day, and more 
than 65 adoption and educational events will take place across the 
country in support of its goals. Wild horse advocates have set a 1,000 
horse and burro adoption goal for National Wild Horse and Burro 
Adoption Day. This will save taxpayers $1.5 million. This process has 
already begun as we saw last weekend with a successful adoption event 
in Pahrump, Nevada.
  The resolution we are considering today supports the goals of 
National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day to be held annually in 
coordination with the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture. It also 
recognizes that creating a successful adoption model for wild horses 
and burros is consistent with the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros 
Act of 1971 and beneficial to the long-term interests of the people of 
the United States in protecting wild horses and burros.
  Lastly, my resolution encourages Americans to adopt a wild horse or 
burro and own a living symbol of the historic and pioneer spirit of the 
American West, just as my sister, Rho Hudson, did when she adopted a 
wild burro, Sadie, who is a nice addition to her ranch in Pea Vine 
Canyon, Nevada.
  More than 220,000 wild horses and burros have been adopted since 
1973. By placing this renewed emphasis on the importance of wild horse 
adoption programs, we will protect the welfare of these majestic 
animals and save taxpayer dollars at the same time.
  I urge passage of this important resolution.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H. Res. 688.
  Having no additional speakers on this topic, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this 
important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 688.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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