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Requires the Bureau of Land Management to manage excess wild free-roaming horses and burros using on-range, non‑surgical immunocontraceptive fertility control (PZP) and to prioritize recruiting, training, and compensating military veterans to become certified PZP applicators. The bill allows the BLM to contract with trained veterans to apply PZP and clarifies those contracted individuals are not federal officers or employees.
Strikes the phrase beginning with "that action is necessary" and replaces it with the phrase "until all excess animals have been removed," changing the statutory text of 16 U.S.C. 1333(b)(2).
Redesignates existing subparagraphs (A) through (C) of 16 U.S.C. 1333(b)(2) as subparagraphs (B) through (D).
Inserts a new subparagraph (A) requiring the Secretary to implement humane, reversible, non-surgical, medically safe on-range immunocontraceptive vaccine fertility controls to manage populations of wild free-roaming horses and burros.
Requires that, in implementing such fertility controls, the Secretary, through the Bureau of Land Management, prioritize recruiting military veterans to train and become certified in applying fertility controls, including the certified PZP applicator certification offered by the Science and Conservation Center’s Certification Program.
Requires the Secretary to provide appropriate compensation to military veterans participating in the certification program. The section does not specify dollar amounts.
Who is affected and how:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and federal program operations: BLM must develop and integrate on‑range immunocontraceptive programs, set up veteran recruitment and training pipelines, manage compensation arrangements, and create contracts for certified applicators. This will require administrative planning, training, and contracting capacity.
Military veterans: Creates a prioritized pathway for veterans to be recruited, trained, certified, and compensated as PZP applicators. This can provide job or contract opportunities and training benefits for participating veterans.
Wild free‑roaming horses and burros: Management focus shifts toward on‑range, non‑surgical fertility control that can reduce population growth without removal or surgical sterilization. This affects population trajectories and timing of removals.
Ranchers, grazers, and other public‑land users: Potential indirect effects on grazing allocations and range condition if on‑range fertility control reduces the need for removals/long‑term holding; some stakeholders may view changes differently depending on perceived effectiveness and timing.
Animal welfare and conservation groups: May see positive outcomes if fertility control reduces off‑range removals and long‑term holding, but stakeholders will watch methods, welfare safeguards, and monitoring closely.
Contractors and procurement process: Creates demand for contract vehicles and oversight of non‑employee applicators; BLM must manage quality control, certification standards, and contractor oversight.
Budget and implementation considerations:
Legal/administrative notes:
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Nancy Mace · Last progress April 10, 2025
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Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House