Ciscomani Takes the Reins as Wild Horse Caucus Co-Chair

Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) won't be breaking broncos anytime soon. However, he ensures they are still around in America as co-chair of the new Congressional Wild Horse Caucus.

The new group of Congressmen seeks to promote humane treatment of the few herds of wild horses and burros roaming the American West, which has come under scrutiny in recent years.

As we detailed last May, the Federal Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) population control methods involve helicopters that chase down horses and burros and set ecologically unsustainable standards for acceptable numbers of these animals in a given area. Instead, domestic sheep and cattle are prioritized.

"Wild horses and burros embody the spirit and heritage of the West and deserve to be protected and treated humanely," said Rep. Ciscomani in his press release, adding, "For too long, these animals have been subject to cruel and costly roundups that, at best, remove them from their natural habitat to be housed in warehouses, and at worst, result in the death of the animal. Caring for wild horses and burros is not a partisan issue, which is why I am proud to be named as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus to promote humane policies, such as PZP fertility control and habitat preservation, to manage and care for these iconic animals."

Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ), another co-chair of the Wild Horse Caucus, said, "Growing up, I had the blessing of spending much time on several ranches and farms in Arizona."

"These experiences have led me to serve as an advocate for humane treatment and protection of these majestic species. I'm looking forward to the conservation initiatives that will come out of the formation of this caucus," Rep. Schweikert added.

Joining the two Arizona Congressmen are Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Steve Cohen (D-TN).