I am a resident of your District writing to express my opposition to the large-scale elimination of America’s wild equine from Public Lands and the use of taxpayer funds to carry out the mass removals. In 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act, ensuring their protection. The bill passed with unanimous support in both the House and the Senate. Since that time, the BLM has taken over fifty percent of the lands promised our country’s wild equine. Yet, the Bureau states wild equines are overpopulated. Historically, available scientific data and technology have not been used to make informed and educated shared land usage decisions for the wild equine. They ignore recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, PEER, and other research organizations that pronounce that the roundups are brutal and kill many wild equines during gathers. The Wild Horse and Burro Program is a prime candidate for government program reform. Restructuring the WHB Program can provide for the care of America’s wild herds that are on the land and those in federal and private holding facilities. The BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program offers a promising opportunity to cut costs and push efficiencies while protecting wild equine. Dramatic reductions in the BLM operating costs could be possible by restoring zeroed out federal Herd Management Areas, keeping wild equine on Public Lands, and returning those in private and federal holding facilities to restored federally designated Herd Management Areas. I support improved agency execution through a Governance, Risk and Compliance effort implemented over BLM Financial, Operational and Data Management. Below are a few of my concerns regarding wild equine management. Conflict of Interest I believe the Bureau of Land Management’s assignment to manage the Wild Horse and Burro Program is a conflict of interest. The consolidation of the General Land Office and the Grazing Service formed the Bureau of Land Management in 1946. The BLM is a land granting agency and has historically supported special interest groups that wish to take precedence over wild equine, wildlife, public land and environmental health. Public land ranchers helped define the arbitrarily low Appropriate Management Level (AML) horse and burro numbers. This is one example of program conflict. The BLM hires outside contractors to gather wild equine on public lands who use controversial bait trapping and helicopters to round up the horses and burros. Agency contractors make millions of dollars annually from these agreements. Many of these contractors are also beneficiaries of the public land grazing permit program. Those who profit from and receive compensation by the program have a direct conflict of interest. Costly and Improper Management Roundups destroy band and herd family units. The horses are separated by gender into different holding facilities. Advocacy field observers have documented facilities that do not meet the BLM’s own wild equine adoption requirements for the public. Managing Wild Equine in Federal and Private Holding Facilities is expensive, inefficient and unhealthy. The WHB Program needs to use the viable option of managing Wild Equine on The Public Lands originally promised them in 1971. It is cost efficient and provides benefits to society and to public lands. A 1991 GAO report revealed no evidence that wild horses negatively affect public lands, where private cattle outnumber them 30:1. A 1982 National Academy of Sciences report identified private livestock as the primary cause of overgrazing on public lands, yet these cattle contribute less than 2% to America’s beef supply. Wild equines actually help support one another, wildlife, and our public land ecosystems. They do not degrade water sources like cattle; they are native to North America and not wetlands animals. Wild equine actually dig waterholes for all wildlife to benefit during drought season. BLM Program Deficits One area showing a deficit is found in the BLM land leasing program. Public land ranchers pay just $1.35 a month to graze cattle on public lands and national forests. The fee covers one “animal month” — 30 days of grazing — for each cow, or cow with calf. The same fee applies for every five sheep or goats. These grazing fees, collected by the BLM, brought in only $16 million in 2018 (before the monthly fee was lowered). That sum does not cover the costs of administering the program, or the environmental degradation caused by livestock grazing on public lands. Beef cows grazed on public lands in the West do not generate consumer surplus or net benefits to consumers or the taxpayers subsidizing the program. The federal grazing fees collected do not cover the costs of administering the leasing program or mitigating environmental damage, resulting in a net loss for taxpayers. I strongly urge you to protect America’s wild equine and help return them to their lands. I further ask that you do not support any legislation that allows the humane euthanasia or destruction of wild equine. Thank you for your service in our district. I ask for your support on this critical issue and seek your response.

As a concerned constituent in your district, I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the mass elimination of America's wild equine from Public Lands and the utilization of taxpayer funds for such actions. The preservation of our wild equine is crucial, as highlighted by the 1971 Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act signed into law by President Richard Nixon. It is disheartening to see that despite the protective measures put in place, over 50% of the lands designated for our country's wild equine have been taken over by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The premise of wild equine overpopulation cited by the BLM does not align with scientific data or recommendations from respected organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences and PEER. The current management of wild equine, characterized by brutal roundups that result in the loss of many horses, requires immediate reform. I believe that the Wild Horse and Burro Program is in dire need of restructuring to ensure the welfare and conservation of America's wild herds. The government should prioritize the care of wild equine on Public Lands over costly and inefficient removal processes. By implementing a Governance, Risk, and Compliance effort focusing on BLM's financial, operational, and data management, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and effective approach to wild equine management. Furthermore, there are concerning conflicts of interest within the BLM's management of the Wild Horse and Burro Program. The agency's historic alignment with special interest groups and the use of contractors who benefit financially from roundups raise ethical issues that must be addressed. The costly and improper management practices, such as disruptive roundups and the inefficient handling of horses in holding facilities, are detrimental to the well-being of these animals and our public lands. It is crucial to acknowledge the valuable role wild equine play in supporting ecosystems, preserving water sources, and fostering biodiversity on Public Lands. Alternatives like managing wild equine on the lands originally designated for them can offer a cost-effective and sustainable solution that benefits both the wildlife and society at large. Additionally, the deficits observed in the BLM's land leasing program underscore the need for a comprehensive review of the agency's practices to ensure responsible stewardship of our public lands. I urge you to take a stand in safeguarding America's wild equine and advocating for their return to their rightful habitats. I respectfully request that you oppose any legislation that threatens the well-being or euthanasia of wild equine on public lands or in holding facilities. Your support on this critical issue is vital, and I look forward to hearing your response. Thank you for your dedication to serving our district and addressing these pressing concerns.

As a concerned resident of your District, I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the large-scale elimination of America's wild equine from Public Lands and the utilization of taxpayer funds for mass removals. In 1971, the Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act was signed by President Nixon to ensure the protection of these majestic creatures. It is disheartening to witness the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) disregarding the promised lands for wild equine and claiming overpopulation as a justification for their removal. The lack of utilization of available scientific data and technology to make informed decisions regarding our wild equine is concerning. Recommendations from reputable organizations highlighting the harsh reality of roundups and the adverse effects on wild equine have been consistently ignored by the BLM. The Wild Horse and Burro Program calls for urgent reform to ensure the humane treatment and preservation of America's wild herds. Moreover, the conflict of interest within the BLM, particularly in managing the Wild Horse and Burro Program, raises red flags. The association between the BLM and public land ranchers, who have influenced the arbitrary low AML horse and burro numbers, raises questions about the impartiality of the program and its implementation. Furthermore, the costly and improper management of wild equine, including destructive roundups and inefficient holding facilities, only adds to the urgency of returning these animals to their rightful lands. The financial deficits within the BLM's land leasing program, where public land ranchers pay negligible fees for grazing, further highlight the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the current system. I urge you to take a stand in protecting America's wild equine and advocating for their return to public lands. Please do not support any legislation that endorses the destruction or euthanasia of wild equine in holding facilities or on public lands. Your assistance in addressing this critical issue is greatly appreciated, and I eagerly await your response. Thank you for your dedicated service to our district.