BLM Funding Faces Potential Cut
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reza eslahi
Member
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would lose $2 million in funding if an amendment introduced and sponsored by U.S. Representative Dan Burton (Ind.) earlier this week is approved. Burton presented the funding cut as an amendment to an omnibus spending bill, and House members approved the amendment by voice vote Feb. 16.
According to BLM estimates, more than 38,000 wild horses and burros reside on agency-managed rangelands in 10 Western states. Another 40,000 animals culled from ranges during scheduled roundups reside in short- and long-term holding facilities. During fiscal year 2010, the BLM had a budget of $63.9 million. Of that, $36.9 million was used to maintain animal holding facilities. The Obama administration has requested the BLM receive $75.5 million in funding in fiscal 2011.
In presenting the amendment, Burton characterized the agency's gather and holding policies as inhumane, costly, and ineffective at managing wild herds. He said the funding reduction set forth in the amendment represents a protest against those policies.
"It is just a drop in the bucket when you are talking about this overall cost problem we're facing," Burton said. "But it is one that I hope will send a very strong message to the Bureau of Land Management, to treat mustangs in a humane way and to solve this problem in a way that is acceptable to the Congress of the United States and the people of this country."
BLM Spokesman Tom Gorey said the agency had no comment on the amendment.
Equine welfare advocate Jerry Finch, president of Habitat for Horses, a Texas-based equine rescue organization, applauded Burton's initiative.
"I'm glad Dan Burton has the courage to point out another failed policy and the absolute waste of taxpayer's money," said Finch. "There is far more to this than will ever meet the public's eye."
Meanwhile, Karen Sussman, president of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, hopes the funding loss will encourage the BLM to rethink its gather policies.
"I am hopeful that this will slow the BLM down in removals," Sussman said.
But Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVN, who observed gathers in California and Utah this past summer, does not believe limiting gathers is best for wild horses. Failing to remove animals from ranges affected by weather, drought, and competition for resources put horses at risk, she said.
As a result, Ralston believes reducing BLM funding could ultimately harm wild horse herds, especially if gathers are reduced as a result.
"Cutting the BLM funding will create crises in the wild horse populations, which will ultimately result in their demise, period," Ralston said. "The blockage of roundups this summer resulted in many deaths at Owyhee, Nev. Gathers were blocked until it was too late to save the horses in the drought conditions, and many died on the range. The ones that died in the gathers were due to the fact they were already debilitated."
The spending bill containing the Burton amendment remains under House consideration. If the House passes it, the entire bill will move on to the Senate for consideration.
According to BLM estimates, more than 38,000 wild horses and burros reside on agency-managed rangelands in 10 Western states. Another 40,000 animals culled from ranges during scheduled roundups reside in short- and long-term holding facilities. During fiscal year 2010, the BLM had a budget of $63.9 million. Of that, $36.9 million was used to maintain animal holding facilities. The Obama administration has requested the BLM receive $75.5 million in funding in fiscal 2011.
In presenting the amendment, Burton characterized the agency's gather and holding policies as inhumane, costly, and ineffective at managing wild herds. He said the funding reduction set forth in the amendment represents a protest against those policies.
"It is just a drop in the bucket when you are talking about this overall cost problem we're facing," Burton said. "But it is one that I hope will send a very strong message to the Bureau of Land Management, to treat mustangs in a humane way and to solve this problem in a way that is acceptable to the Congress of the United States and the people of this country."
BLM Spokesman Tom Gorey said the agency had no comment on the amendment.
Equine welfare advocate Jerry Finch, president of Habitat for Horses, a Texas-based equine rescue organization, applauded Burton's initiative.
"I'm glad Dan Burton has the courage to point out another failed policy and the absolute waste of taxpayer's money," said Finch. "There is far more to this than will ever meet the public's eye."
Meanwhile, Karen Sussman, president of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, hopes the funding loss will encourage the BLM to rethink its gather policies.
"I am hopeful that this will slow the BLM down in removals," Sussman said.
But Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVN, who observed gathers in California and Utah this past summer, does not believe limiting gathers is best for wild horses. Failing to remove animals from ranges affected by weather, drought, and competition for resources put horses at risk, she said.
As a result, Ralston believes reducing BLM funding could ultimately harm wild horse herds, especially if gathers are reduced as a result.
"Cutting the BLM funding will create crises in the wild horse populations, which will ultimately result in their demise, period," Ralston said. "The blockage of roundups this summer resulted in many deaths at Owyhee, Nev. Gathers were blocked until it was too late to save the horses in the drought conditions, and many died on the range. The ones that died in the gathers were due to the fact they were already debilitated."
The spending bill containing the Burton amendment remains under House consideration. If the House passes it, the entire bill will move on to the Senate for consideration.