Reps. McClain, Fitzpatrick, and Salazar Introduce Veterans for Mustangs Act

Statement

Today, U.S. Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Maria Salazar (R-FL) introduced the Veterans for Mustangs Act (VMA) that would amend the 1971 Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act to help better protect American wild horses and burros on federal lands and provide avenues for healing American veterans with PTSD and other disorders resulting from combat.

"The BLM's round up of horses with helicopters is horribly inhumane and it breaks my heart to see what these animals go through during these round ups," saidRep. McClain. "I'm proud to introduce the Veterans for Mustangs Act, which not only comes up with a humane way to provide medicine to wild horses, but also puts our nation's veterans on the frontlines of administering these medications," said Rep. McClain.

"We applaud Rep. McClain for her leadership and dedication to protecting both our American heroes and the iconic American horses upon whose very backs this country was built," said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action and eight-time world champion equestrian. "The Veterans for Mustangs Act would help curb the Bureau of Land Management's radical assault against wild equids on federal lands and save the taxpayer billions of dollars by administering common-sense immunocontracpetive birth control."

"We're elated to see the Veterans for Mustangs Act come to fruition and believe this legislation will be a game changer in the fight to help wild horses and veterans alike," said Cameron Ring, founder of Veterans for Mustangs and a former National Guard Soldier. "We offer tremendous thanks and applause for Rep. McClain and the Members of Congress leading this effort."

"We are so grateful for the Members of Congress who've stepped in to help better protect the wild horses and burros on the range that I've been deeply connected to and have observed since childhood." said Monty Roberts, the "Man Who Listens to Horses,' one of the leading horsemen on the planet. "The Veterans for Mustangs Act will enable veterans with post-traumatic stress and other traumas to engage in activities that will produce meaningful results for the betterment of equines and humans alike."

"Involving our honored veterans as an alternative to cruel helicopter roundups to help our wild herds is an idea whose time has come," said Scott Beckstead, director of campaigns at the Center for a Humane Economy. "This bill is a win-win for our horses and burros, our veterans, and the American taxpayers."

The VMA is endorsed by Veterans for Mustangs, Animal Wellness Action, the Animal Wellness Foundation, the Center for a Humane Economy, the American Horse Protection Society, numerous American Legion Posts across the U.S., Monty Roberts and Flag Is Up Farm, Horse Sense and Healing, War Horse Creek, Devil Dog Depot Equine Sanctuary and Rescue, and Wish for Our Heroes.

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