Today, March 3, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the U.S. Department of Interior's budget request for Fiscal Year 2011. Included is an increase of $12 million for the controversial Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro program, and $42.5 million to purchase the first of several holding pastures in the Midwest or East to house wild horses taken from the West.
At the hearing (you can view it online here), both Senators Murkowski (R-AK) and Landrieu (D-LA) addressed the wild horse issue. In opening comments vice chair Murkoski voiced her "concern" about the direction the agency - she said something to the effect that she was concerned about moving more horses to the east and not managing on the range.
Landrieu was terrific talking about her concern of the program and how the horses have lost millions of acres over the years, the inhumane roundups during winter weather of ice/snow, and she highlighted that the "horses only have a measly 31 million acres" out of 500 million acres overseen by the Depart. of Interior. Salazar responded (looking at Landrieu and gesturing to other senators) that he knows about the concerns and that he is "not wedded" to his proposal and looks forward to working together.
Thank you to everyone who took action to contact the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee members. This is just the first step in Congress' long appropriations process.
We'll continue to provide updates and action alerts - so stay tuned. The horses and burros need you to keep fighting for them ... and please tell a friend about their plight.
On another note:
PUBLIC COMMENTS are due FRIDAY, MARCH 5 to oppose a proposed roundup of 1,980 wild horses and burros in California. Please click here to take action now & tell a friend.
PUBLIC COMMENTS are due FRIDAY, MARCH 5 to oppose a proposed roundup of 1,980 wild horses and burros in California. Please click here to take action now & tell a friend.
Thank you.
