Alan Simpson: “We agree that there is a major problem with the wild horse and burro policy. It is too expensive and problematic for…”

“We agree that there is a major problem with the wild horse and burro policy. It is too expensive and problematic for multiple uses on public lands and conserving western rangelands. The true problem is the law, not the funding of the law. The wild horse population is not native to North America and can double every 4 years. If horses aren't removed from the range, it can cause degradation and reduced foliage for wildlife and livestock. If this program isn't appropriately funded and horses aren't removed from the range, wild horses will continue to reproduce, over-graze and eventually have a population crash, which means starving horses. I would also point out that it is already illegal to slaughter wild horses or burros, and the BLM spends no funds on slaughtering wild horses or burros. But I appreciate the gentleman from Indiana pointing out the problem, and I would like to work with him to find a reasonable solution to this that doesn't cost the kind of money that it currently costs.”