To amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to provide for criminal penalties for acquiring a wild free-roaming horse or burro with the intention of transferring such animal for processing into commercial products, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 23, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
This bill amends the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to prevent the slaughter of wild horses and burros for commercial use. It makes it a federal felony crime, punishable by fines up to $2,000 and imprisonment for more than one year, for anyone to acquire wild horses or burros with the intent to sell them for processing into commercial products or to knowingly transfer them for that purpose. The bill also shortens the timeframe for gaining title to an adopted wild horse from one year to six months. The legislation applies to anyone involved in the acquisition or transfer of these animals for slaughter purposes, and it directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to investigate violations and refer cases to the Department of Justice for prosecution. This bill effectively strengthens federal protections for wild horses and burros by creating criminal penalties for involvement in their commercial slaughter.
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