ENROLLED HOUSE
RESOLUTION NO. 1049	By:	McNiel

A Resolution disapproving wasteful federal spending on wild horses and burros; urging Congress to end the program; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, on December 15, 1971, the federal Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 was signed into law in order to protect and manage the wild horse and burro population found on public land; and

WHEREAS, the wild horse and burro program has resulted in more than 40,000 horses and burros currently being kept in holding facilities and the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, has called the program “not sustainable for the animals, the environment, or the taxpayer”; and

WHEREAS, in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget of the United States Government, President Obama requested Seventy Five Million Dollars ($75,000,000.00) to fund the wild horse and burro program, which is a nearly fifteen percent (15%) increase in spending from the previous year; and

WHEREAS, more than Seven Hundred Forty-four Million Dollars ($744,000,000.00) have been spent on the wild horse and burro program since its inception; and

WHEREAS, the expenditures on the wild horse and burro program are excessive and wasteful when the country is facing an unprecedented federal deficit; and

WHEREAS, the millions of dollars allocated for the wild horse and burro program could be better spent on important programs to aid children and the elderly, some of our country’s most vulnerable citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives disapproves of the wasteful spending for the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives urges Congress to adopt laws which would put an end to this unnecessary program.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to President Barack Obama, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and each member of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation.

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 26th day of March, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives