Legislative Issues
It is important to recruit others to join the KHC and become knowledgeable about trail issues. Contact your State and U.S. congressmen with your opinions and concerns as it is the only way we can fight for our right to own and ride horses:
KansasElectedOfficials
www.senate.gov
www.house.gov/writerep/
For maximum effect call, fax, or write letters, as many legislators are not responsive to e-mail.
Please take time to read the information referred to regarding the information on proposed changes in the National Forests as the proposed changes may have tremendous negative impacts on equestrians and nearly everyone else. Click on the following links for detailed information:
Federal Issues:
MEMORANDUM
To: AHC Organizations
From: Alicia Cunningham
Re: Right to Ride Legislation Passes House Resources Committee
Date: May 5, 2004
UPDATE
The Right to Ride bill (H.R. 2966) was passed today by voice vote in the House Resources Committee.
Having this bill reported out of the House Resources Committee is an important step, regardless of what happens to this legislation in the remainder of this Congress. This vote is a recognition of the unique place that horses and saddle stock have, at least in the view of several Members of the Committee, in our heritage and in recreation on public lands. There were several statements made by Members of the Committee during the debate that were very supportive of the use of horses on federal lands, including Wilderness areas.
The bill, sponsored by Representative George Radanovich (R-CA) was openly criticized by Representatives Nick Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Committee, and Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
Both Representatives criticized the fact that the legislation seems to give a "leg-up" to horses above other recreationists, such as hikers and mountain bikers. Representative Rahall specifically stated that the legislation was unnecessary and unwise since horses are not being uniformly banned from federal lands and unfairly affected the management planning of local land managers. "Before we go galloping off and approve this, we need to take stock of the bill. We need to rein it in and say 'whoa'. Do not saddle land managers with this yolk," he said. Instead, "pack in this bill and let it ride off into the sunset."
When things seemed bleak for the bill, Representatives Radanovich, Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) spoke in support of the legislation.
Representative Radanovich pointed out that pack and saddle stock "have long been used on publc lands. This bill simply recognizes that traditional use in the U.S." Some feel that horses have been targeted for exclusion. I call this "management by closure."
Representative Abercrombie spoke up stating that the bill served a "serious purpose". He told the Committee that his grandfather was an original Teamster and was put out of business only with the advent of the internal combustion engine. "Horses and pack animals are special," he said, "particularly in the West. Their use should be encouraged." Representative Abercrombie also said that the legislation only provided for the continued use and its purpose was a valid one – to prevent a reduction of use – not to give horses a leg up on other recreationists. "Anything that we can do to preserve this use should be encouraged," he said. In addition, he stated his frustration that those who would oppose this bill were those who knew that somehow, somewhere, someone is having a good time and they want to put an end to it.
Representative Faleomavaega also stated his support for the bill pointing out that "this is our culture, this is our heritage. We want this sector of the society to continue." Representative Faleomavaega proudly pointed out that his father was a horseman.
Though both Representatives Rahall and Christensen spoke out in opposition to the bill, they did not vote against it. The bill was unanimously approved by voice vote.
BACKGROUND
H.R. 2966 applies to all federal lands managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
Specifically the legislation mandates that the lands should be managed by the federal agencies "to preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use."
In addition, the legislation requires that "as a general rule, all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use."
Federal Proposed Rule Change, National Forest System Land and Resource Planning Act
Senator Cantwell's Bill to establish Roadless Initiative as Law
Federal Roadless Initiative
Federal Road Management Policy
Society of American Foresters National Forests Road Policy
Federal Recreation Agenda
Rails to Trails in Kansas:
Rails-to-Trails
Trail Closures in Kansas:
Clinton Lake Trails
Other links related to Equestrian Trail issues are:
The Equestrian Land Consevation Resource
American Horse Council Testimony to House Resources Committee
Sierra Club :(read: America's Forests, Protect Wildlands; under Issues Update; read the section on Ecoregions)
Wildlands Project
Environment Conservation Organization
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