19 December 2006
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In 1971 an unprecedented public outcry moved Congress to unanimously pass the Wild Free-Roaming Horse & Burro Act, which granted federal protection to America's wild horses and burros, declaring that they are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people.
Last fall, US Senator Conrad Burns (R-Montana) slipped a rider into the 3,300 page federal budget that opened the door to re-newing the slaughter of our wild horses. This gutted a 34-year old effort to preserve our mustangs and our heritage, without any opportunity of input from the American public - he effectively walked all over our constitutional rights.
The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, from whom the horse/flag logo above are derived, is alerting the public to the fact that America's wild horses are being eradicated from public lands in violation of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse & Burro Act. For much more info on this, see their website at http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/resources/wipe_out.html, which gives the entire background on how this travesty, which includes action by BLM & Congress, could take place.
On the 8th of July 2005, the US House of Representatives voted decisively to restore the bans on the slaughter of these magnificent creatures, thankfully, over the strong efforts of my own House Representative, Bob Goodlatte, who vowed to stop anything from progressing. Now the effort turns to the US Senate.
US House of Representatives bill HR297 has been won.
US Senate bill S576 is the next fight.
The AWHPC Coalition includes:
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Humane Society of the United States
International Ecotourism Society
Center for Environmental Education and Information
American Wild Horse Sanctuary (Return to Freedom)
Old West Living History Foundation
American Horse Defense Fund
American
Humane Association
Heritage
Discovery Center
Wild Horse Observers
Association
American Horse Defense Fund
Wild
Horse & Burro Freedom Alliance
Utah
Environmental Congress
American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Int’l Society
for the Protection of Mustangs & Burros
Society
for Animal Protective Legislation
American Mustang
and Burro Association
Vaquero
Heritage Foundation
Wild Horse
Spirit
Equine
Advocates
Forest
Guardians
Animals
Voice
Colonial
Spanish Horse
Cascadia
Wildlands Project
Wild Burro
Rescue & Preservation Project
National Wild Horse Rescue and Sanctuary
National
Student Horse Protection Coalition
The AWHPC Coalition is part of the National Wild Horse and Burro Planning Group, an ad hoc advisory committee working to formulate and coordinate a national strategy in response to the current crisis.