Bill > HR4356

This bill seeks to amend the Wild Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act to prohibit the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for rounding up wild horses and burros, with the goal of creating more humane population management practices. The bill requires a two-year phased elimination of aircraft use for gathering wild horses and burros, mandating that any aircraft used during this transition period must be equipped with cameras to record the roundup operations and make footage available in agency reports. The legislation is motivated by concerns about the dangers of helicopter roundups, which can frighten animals and potentially cause injury, and the high cost of these operations—noting that over $69.5 million has been spent on roundups since 2012, while fertility control treatments have been minimal. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report within one year examining humane alternatives to aircraft-based roundups, potential job creation from these alternatives, and the effects of aircraft on wild horse and burro populations. The overall intent is to promote more compassionate and cost-effective wildlife management strategies that prioritize animal welfare and reduce taxpayer expenditure.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4356/all-info