Please note: This attachment involves a conversion to HTML format of two documents issued by Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA) on the morning of the Rahall / Whitfield amendment (May 19, 2005.) While the format (layout) of these reporiductions may be changed from the originals in converting to web presentable documents, the content is accurate.

May 19, 2005

Dear Colleague,

This morning the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued new guidelines that protect wild horses from slaughter while maintaining the integrity of their sale program.

The new BLM guidelines will ensure America's wild horses and burros will not go to slaughter. BLM now requires buyers to agree to provide humane care for the horses by specifically prohibiting the sale or transfer of ownership of the horses or burros to any person or organization that intends to process them for commercial products. Falsifying or concealing information in the contract is subject to criminal penalties under U.S. law.

To date, the BLM has sold approximately 2000 horses to individuals who are providing homes for the horses. Approximately 5,000 more horses are awaiting adoption.

A vote for the Rahall/Whitfield Amendment would be a vote for keeping these horses penned up in BLM holding facilities.

Vote AGAINST the Rahall/Whitfield Amendment and allow these horses to freely roam again!

Sincerely,

/s/

Richard Pombo
Chairman
House Committee on Resources

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PROTECT THE RANGE AND SAVE THE WILD HORSES

OPPOSE THE RAHALL/WHITFIELD AMENDMENT

Dear Colleague,

We are writing today to ask you to join us in opposition to the Rahall-Whitfield amendment that would end the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) authority to sell wild horses and burros and for your support in addressing an important resource and wildlife management issue that affects our nation's rangelands.

Recognizing the need to ensure healthy herds and healthy rangelands, the U.S. Congress gave the Administration the authority to manage, protect, and control wild horses and burros with the enactment of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The statute directs the government to manage populations at a designated appropriate management level (AML) based on wild herd and rangeland monitoring to determine the number of animals, including livestock and wildlife, that the land can support. Currently, the AML is 28,000, while the total population of horses on the range is 37,000.

The excess horse populations cause significant resource damage. Conservation groups such as the National Association of Conservation Districts, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Izaak Walton League, and a number of others have acknowledged the damage caused by the horses. Balanced management respecting recreation, watersheds, wildlife and grazing must be restored to the public lands where horses roam.

We know you share our support for the multiple uses of our nation's public lands. For this reason we ask you to oppose the Rahall-Whitfield amendment that will be presented during the floor debate on the Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2006.

Sincerely,

/s/ RICHARD W. POMBO Chairman Committee on Resources

/s/ SHERWOOD BOEHLERT Chairman Committee on Science