House Passes Jones Bill To Protect Cape Lookout Horses

“Today’s action was a win for the horses of Shackleford Banks.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2055 – legislation introduced by Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) to update the science-based parameters that govern management of the free roaming horses on Shackleford Banks. The bill would amend current law – which permits 100 free roaming horses on the Banks – to allow “not less than 110 free roaming horses, with a target population of between 120 to 130 free roaming horses.” H.R. 2055 passed by voice vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“Today’s action was a win for the horses of Shackleford Banks. H.R. 2055 will protect the viability of the herd so people can enjoy them for years to come. The bill is based on sound science and is supported by the National Park Service, the scientific experts, and the local community,” Jones said.

In 1998 the President signed Congressman Jones’ original Shackleford Banks Wild Horses Protection Act. That bill set the framework for using sound science as the basis for cooperative management of the horses by the Park Service and local stakeholders.

H.R. 2055 seeks to improve that law by updating its science-based parameters. “Numerous studies by world-renowned scientists – Dr. Dan Rubenstein of Princeton and Dr. Gus Cothran of the University of Kentucky – have confirmed that in order to maintain the herd’s long-term viability, its optimum size is around 120 animals. The experts also agree that the population should not dip below 110 and that it should be allowed to expand periodically to 130 or more in order to sustain proper genetic diversity in the herd. H.R. 2055 will codify this scientific consensus into law,” Congressman Jones explained.

“I’d like to thank my House colleagues for their bipartisan support of this legislation. The Senate now needs to quickly approve the bill so the President can sign it into law.”

House Passes Jones Bill To Protect Cape Lookout Horses

“Today’s action was a win for the horses of Shackleford Banks.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2055 – legislation introduced by Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) to update the science-based parameters that govern management of the free roaming horses on Shackleford Banks. The bill would amend current law – which permits 100 free roaming horses on the Banks – to allow “not less than 110 free roaming horses, with a target population of between 120 to 130 free roaming horses.” H.R. 2055 passed by voice vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“Today’s action was a win for the horses of Shackleford Banks. H.R. 2055 will protect the viability of the herd so people can enjoy them for years to come. The bill is based on sound science and is supported by the National Park Service, the scientific experts, and the local community,” Jones said.

In 1998 the President signed Congressman Jones’ original Shackleford Banks Wild Horses Protection Act. That bill set the framework for using sound science as the basis for cooperative management of the horses by the Park Service and local stakeholders.

H.R. 2055 seeks to improve that law by updating its science-based parameters. “Numerous studies by world-renowned scientists – Dr. Dan Rubenstein of Princeton and Dr. Gus Cothran of the University of Kentucky – have confirmed that in order to maintain the herd’s long-term viability, its optimum size is around 120 animals. The experts also agree that the population should not dip below 110 and that it should be allowed to expand periodically to 130 or more in order to sustain proper genetic diversity in the herd. H.R. 2055 will codify this scientific consensus into law,” Congressman Jones explained.

“I’d like to thank my House colleagues for their bipartisan support of this legislation. The Senate now needs to quickly approve the bill so the President can sign it into law.”