OpEd by R.T. Fitch ~president/co-founder Wild Horse Freedom Federation
It’s ‘Feel Good Sunday’ and time to take a deep breath, turn our eyes inward and allow our spirits the time to recharge and regenerate.
These Sunday installments are meant to give you fellow, volunteer advocates pause and allow us to embrace each other in the commonality of our goals and bask in the knowledge that our fight is just, noble and of intense importance.
So with that said, I would like to share with you a few thoughts that were forwarded to me by our own Grandma Gregg with the recommendation that Sunday might just be the perfect time to share them with our readers, so thank-you Grandma; I shall proceed under your sage direction.
Tom Hanks and Captain Phillips
Recently, Captain Richard Phillips, made famous in the award winning movie ‘Captain Phillips’ staring Tom Hanks, gave a highly motivational speech at the Association of General Contractors of South Dakota in Aberdeen SD. Of course there was much to glean and absorb from his presentation but Grandma Gregg and I walked away with three key points that directly speak to our equine advocacy and to each and everyone of you who are regular visitors here at SFTHH. These statements impressed us so much that Grandma Gregg recommends that we print them out, tape them to our bathroom mirror and ensure that we read them first thing in the morning and make certain that they are the last things that we see before falling asleep, so allow me to proceed:
We are all stronger than we know, we can do more and take more on.
Nothing is over until we choose to give up. Failure is NOT final.
A dedicated team and focus can overcome any obstacle or problem. Working together, the parts are stronger than the whole.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is us; that is who we are and that is how we need to perform as we move forward in the quest to save the last of our wild horses and burros.
I cannot add to those three salient points but I would like to close in stating that even to this day, Captain Phillips is very outspoken on the issue that he does NOT consider himself to be a hero.
His frank humility is humbling and I tip my hat to his leadership, honesty and dedication.
Yet, you ALL are heroes in my heart, each and every one of you. I am blessed to know you and remind myself of that fact each and every day.
Keep the faith; failure is not an option!
Categories: The Force of the Horse, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Thank You Rt and GG………Each and everyone of us here knows in our hearts and in our souls that the day will come when our Precious Mustangs will be Free on the Range again, as describe by The Congress of 1971 unanimously……..This is the Truth we all hold Dear for Our Wild Mustang Treasures, the very ones inwhich the Higher Power intrusted the fertility of the Land…….He created these Fabulous beings to ensure this for all…… It is our task to never let this go to the wayside …… This goal is forseeable by all of us….. Never can we let go for the Wild mustangs are the Future…. I can see this goal achived , It is close and reachable I can feel it , i can taste it, and see it clearly, we can together make it happen…………………………………………
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We must stay strong for our precious Wild Mustangs/Burrows.. Each one is important.
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Thank you RT and GG—– one of my favorite postings I keep is – from the Center for Western Priorities —–“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
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I like that quote Geri, it’s so true. Thank you for sharing it.
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I think its even more true the past 20-30 years! I read somewhere where we (human race) have eradicated about 40-50 species of animal in the past few (20?) years. I hope & pray that our wild horses & burros don’t become one of those species. These blankety blank “corporations” & lobbyists & greedy entities don’t care – we sure do need to keep them from succeeding. And RT is right – failing isn’t an option.
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And we are not done yet. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/15-endangered-animals-to-watch-in-2015
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As long as there are wild mustangs and burros, the advocates must speak up as their voice to make the public and government aware that the wild horses and burros must be protected and allowed to run free with their families on the range and on public lands til the end of time and not just in the movies. Never stop telling people you know and your Senators and Congressmen about their plight for survival and freedom
.
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These horses and burros are innocent of doing anything wrong….they have lived their lives for their families and have always done anything that man asked of them..It is as simple as good vs. evil….and Good always wins in the end…keep your eye on the prize…and know that our prayers will be answered…let go and let God….
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I just read the article by Robert Bauer on Habitat for Horses. I know there are different opinions on this – but I’m convinced he’s right about the whole PZP thing. I don’t think we (horse advocates) can afford to give in to the BLM. For heavens sake – they couldn’t even compromise enough to give the horses shelter from wind & sun (and THATS something that the BLM requires when anyone adopts a horse)
WHEN have they ever actually compromised on ANYTHING? If Mr. Bauer is correct (and I would believe him before the BLM) there are way less than 20,000 horses remaining in the wild. And the BLM wants to round up MORE?
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PZP is not an viable option . possitively there is no need ,………
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I saw this & I was wondering what you guys think…
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I’m afraid shes right – however hard our groups are fighting – it doesn’t seem to change anything – giving in to the BLM with PZP just to keep a few horses in the wild is only cutting back on their ability to reproduce & really, no one actually KNOWS the extent that this stuff damages their bodies & way of life. If these mares continue to come into heat after being treated – the herd numbers are skewed – older stallions being removed – how is this saving them? I think its doing the job for the BLM eventually. Honest, I don’t have the answer to how to save them – but does anyone?
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Thank you for your insightful comment.
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How bout if anyone knows a congressman to write a new bill comparable to this one from 2007-2008
Who’s close enough to a congressman and or Senate to present this bill from the past to get another one drawn up…we need it right about NOW!!
HR 249 (Repeal the Burns Amendment)
Bill Summary & Status
110th Congress (2007 – 2008)
H.R.249
H.R.249
Latest Title: To restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros.
Sponsor: Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] (introduced 1/5/2007) Cosponsors (17)
Related Bills: H.RES.331
Latest Major Action: 4/26/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House Reports: 110-93
Jump to: Summary, Major Actions, All Actions, Titles, Cosponsors, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments SUMMARY AS OF:
4/26/2007–Passed House without amendment. (There is 1 other summary)
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to: (1) prohibit the sale or transfer of any free-roaming horse or burro or its remains on U.S. public lands for consideration for processing into commercial products; and (2) repeal provisions permitting the sale of certain excess animals or their remains and excluding from criminal fine or imprisonment a person who processes or permits the processing of such animals’ remains.
MAJOR ACTIONS:
1/5/2007Introduced in House
4/17/2007Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-93.
4/26/2007Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 277 – 137 (Roll no. 269).
4/26/2007Referred to Senate committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
ALL ACTIONS:
1/5/2007:
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E34)
1/5/2007:
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
3/7/2007:
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
3/7/2007:
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
4/17/2007 1:49pm:
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-93.
4/17/2007 1:49pm:
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 58.
4/24/2007 7:28pm:
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 331 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 249 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
4/26/2007 10:25am:
Rule H. Res. 331 passed House.
4/26/2007 10:25am:
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 331. (consideration: CR H4182-4192)
4/26/2007 10:25am:
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 249 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
4/26/2007 10:28am:
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 331 and Rule XVIII.
4/26/2007 10:28am:
The Speaker designated the Honorable Lincoln Davis to act as Chairman of the Committee.
4/26/2007 10:28am:
GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 249.
4/26/2007 11:02am:
H.AMDT.115 Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Price (GA). (consideration: CR H4187-4188, H4189-4191; text: CR H4187-4190) Amendment sought to require that any new spending as a result of this legislation must have a specific offset before this legislation can take effect.
4/26/2007 11:03am:
DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Price of Georgia amendment under the five-minute rule.
4/26/2007 11:23am:
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of the debate on Price of Georgia amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Price of Georgia demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
4/26/2007 11:23am:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
4/26/2007 11:51am:
H.AMDT.115 On agreeing to the Price (GA) amendment (A001) Failed by recorded vote: 186 – 238 (Roll no. 267).
4/26/2007 11:52am:
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 249.
4/26/2007 11:52am:
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H4190)
4/26/2007 11:54am:
Mr. Price (GA) moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources.
4/26/2007 11:55am:
DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Price of Georgia motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with amendments inserting a new paragraph clarifying that the underlying legislation shall not take effect until 60 days after the date on which the Secretary certifies to Congress that the long-term care of all animals not sold as a result of this Act does not exceed $500,000 annually.
4/26/2007 12:01pm:
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H4190)
4/26/2007 12:22pm:
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 182 – 234 (Roll no. 268). (consideration: CR H4190-4191)
4/26/2007 12:37pm:
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 277 – 137 (Roll no. 269).
4/26/2007 12:37pm:
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4/26/2007:
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill) OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
To restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros.
COSPONSORS(17), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] – 3/22/2007 Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] – 2/13/2007 Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] – 1/31/2007 Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] – 2/13/2007 Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] – 3/22/2007 Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] – 3/22/2007 Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] – 2/13/2007 Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 3/22/2007 Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] – 2/13/2007 Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] – 2/13/2007 Rep Miller, George [CA-7] – 3/22/2007 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 3/22/2007 Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] – 2/13/2007 Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] – 1/5/2007 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] – 3/22/2007 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] – 3/22/2007 Rep Wu, David [OR-1] – 3/22/2007
COMMITTEE(S):
Committee/Subcommittee:Activity:
House Natural ResourcesReferral, Markup, Reporting
Senate Energy and Natural ResourcesReferral, In Committee
RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)
Bill:Relationship:
H.RES.331Rule related to H.R.249 in House
AMENDMENT(S):
1. H.AMDT.115 to H.R.249 Amendment sought to require that any new spending as a result of this legislation must have a specific offset before this legislation can take effect.
Sponsor: Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] (introduced 4/26/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 4/26/2007 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Price (GA) amendment (A001) Failed by recorded vote: 186 – 238 (Roll no. 267).
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