In December 2004 Senator Conrad Burns from the state of Montana prepared what is widely known as “The Burns Amendment”
This bill language was never introduced to Congress, never debated or voted on. In fact, few, if any, knew of its existence or insertion into this 3,000 page Omnibus Act. This important legislation is KEY in giving the BLM the authority to use Helicopters.. This legislation simply 'appeared' in the 2005 Omnibus spending bill in the DARK OF NIGHT. In 2004 the 1971 Free Roaming Wild Horsee and Burro Act was stripped of its central purpose when Republican Senator Conrad Burns of Montana prepared what is now widely known as “the Burns Amendment.” Taking advantage of his position as chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Burns slipped his bill in with complete secrecy, knowing that committee reports cannot be amended. The bill amending the 1971 Act was never introduced to Congress; it was never discussed or voted on.
Proposed Action
Amend the 2025 Department of Interior Budget to preclude the use of helicopters in the management of America’s Wild Horses and Burros.
- SEC. 119 of PL 108-447 is amended to read: The Secretary of the Interior may NOT use or contract for the use of helicopters or motor vehicles for the purpose of capturing and transporting horses and burros. Under the provisions of this subsection such use shall NOT be in accordance with humane procedures prescribed by the Secretary.
- SEC. 142 of PL 108-447 is amended to read: to read: Funds generated from the sale of excess animals by the Secretary of the Interior shall be -- (A) made available as grant money to not-for-profit (501c3) entities involved in the private rescue of equines, and (B) the Secretary of the Interior shall make it a priority to identify and execute the return of animals already removed from public lands to be deployed in areas where their contribution to Wildfire Prevention is appropriate, and (C) the Secretary of the interior shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations the progress made on this Act semi-annually.
- SEC. 803 of PLAW-104-333 of 1996 to read: WILD BURROS AND HORSES.
(a) VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT.—Section 9 of the Act of December 15, 1971 (16 U.S.C. 1338a), is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘‘Nothing in this title shall be deemed to entitle the Secretary of the Department of the Interior in the management of units of the National Park System, and the Secretary may NOT, without regard either to the provisions of this title, or the provisions of section 47(a) of title 18, United States Code, use motor vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, or helicopters, or to contract for such use, in furtherance of the management of the National Park System, and section 47(a) of title 18, United States Code, shall be applicable to such use.’’.
- None of the Funds made available in this ACT may be may be reprogrammed without the advance approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in accordance with the reprogramming procedures contained in the report accompanying this Act
References:
- How the Burns Amendment got into LAW in the first place
- Public Law 108 - 447 - (Omnibus Spending) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005
- Public Law 104-133 of 1996‘Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996’
- Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025
- Senate version of the DOI Appropriations for 2025
- A) Background on the Burns Amendment impact on Wild Horses
- B) Additional Background on the Burns Amendment impact on Wild Horses
- C) James Pendlelton (USDA) was in the room for the legislaltive magic in 2004-5
- D) Harry Reid abeted the slight of hand on the Burns Amendment
- E) Conrad Burns condems Wild Horses to slaughter behind our backs
- F) Public Lands Grazing Costs taxpayeres ovre $600,000.,000 annually and produces only about 2 percent of the nutrition consumed by Americans
In December 2004 Senator Conrad Burns from the state of Montana prepared what is widely known as “The Burns Amendment”
This bill language was never introduced to Congress, never debated or voted on. In fact, few, if any, knew of its existence or insertion into this 3,000 page Omnibus Act. This important legislation is KEY in giving the BLM the authority to use Helicopters.. This legislation simply 'appeared' in the 2005 Omnibus spending bill in the DARK OF NIGHT. In 2004 the 1971 Free Roaming Wild Horsee and Burro Act was stripped of its central purpose when Republican Senator Conrad Burns of Montana prepared what is now widely known as “the Burns Amendment.” Taking advantage of his position as chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Burns slipped his bill in with complete secrecy, knowing that committee reports cannot be amended. The bill amending the 1971 Act was never introduced to Congress; it was never discussed or voted on.
Proposed Action
Amend the 2025 Department of Interior Budget to preclude the use of helicopters in the management of America’s Wild Horses and Burros.
- SEC. 119 of PL 108-447 is amended to read: The Secretary of the Interior may NOT use or contract for the use of helicopters or motor vehicles for the purpose of capturing and transporting horses and burros. Under the provisions of this subsection such use shall NOT be in accordance with humane procedures prescribed by the Secretary.
- SEC. 142 of PL 108-447 is amended to read: to read: Funds generated from the sale of excess animals by the Secretary of the Interior shall be -- (A) made available as grant money to not-for-profit (501c3) entities involved in the private rescue of equines, and (B) the Secretary of the Interior shall make it a priority to identify and execute the return of animals already removed from public lands to be deployed in areas where their contribution to Wildfire Prevention is appropriate, and (C) the Secretary of the interior shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations the progress made on this Act semi-annually.
- SEC. 803 of PLAW-104-333 of 1996 to read: WILD BURROS AND HORSES.
(a) VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT.—Section 9 of the Act of December 15, 1971 (16 U.S.C. 1338a), is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ‘‘Nothing in this title shall be deemed to entitle the Secretary of the Department of the Interior in the management of units of the National Park System, and the Secretary may NOT, without regard either to the provisions of this title, or the provisions of section 47(a) of title 18, United States Code, use motor vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, or helicopters, or to contract for such use, in furtherance of the management of the National Park System, and section 47(a) of title 18, United States Code, shall be applicable to such use.’’.
- None of the Funds made available in this ACT may be may be reprogrammed without the advance approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in accordance with the reprogramming procedures contained in the report accompanying this Act
References:
- How the Burns Amendment got into LAW in the first place
- Public Law 108 - 447 - (Omnibus Spending) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005
- Public Law 104-133 of 1996‘Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996’
- Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025
- Senate version of the DOI Appropriations for 2025
- A) Background on the Burns Amendment impact on Wild Horses
- B) Additional Background on the Burns Amendment impact on Wild Horses
- C) James Pendlelton (USDA) was in the room for the legislaltive magic in 2004-5
- D) Harry Reid abeted the slight of hand on the Burns Amendment
- E) Conrad Burns condems Wild Horses to slaughter behind our backs
- F) Public Lands Grazing Costs taxpayeres ovre $600,000.,000 annually and produces only about 2 percent of the nutrition consumed by Americans