Bill Overview
Title: Veterans for Mustangs Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of the Interior to prioritize use of nonsurgical, medically safe on-range fertility controls to manage populations of wild, free-roaming horses and burros. In implementing such fertility controls, the Bureau of Land Management shall prioritize the recruitment of military veterans to train and become certified in the application of fertility controls, including the certified PZP applicator certification offered by the Science and Conservation Center's Certification Program. Interior shall provide appropriate compensation to military veterans participating in such a certification program. The bill authorizes Interior to contract with military veterans who have completed the training program to carry out fertility control activities.
Sponsors: Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-10]
Target Audience
Population: Wild horses and burros in the US
Estimated Size: 85000
- The bill focuses on managing wild horse and burro populations using fertility control methods.
- The target population includes wild horses and burros in the United States, where the fertility control methods will be applied.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to involve military veterans, which can impact their employment and skill development, contributing positively to their wellbeing.
- The budget needs to be considered in terms of the training and compensation provided to veterans, as well as the resource allocation for managing the wild horse and burro populations.
- Not all individuals in the general population will be directly impacted; those directly affected are veterans engaged in the program and individuals concerned with wild horse and burro management.
- A diverse geographical representation of opinions will provide a more comprehensive view of the policy's impact.
- Long-term effects on wellbeing could differ as the policy might provide consistent employment for a subset of veterans.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran - Unemployed (Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is a great opportunity to use my skills in a new arena.
- Getting paid to do something meaningful like wildlife conservation is appealing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Wildlife Enthusiast (Colorado)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see humane methods being prioritized.
- Hope they can manage the budget effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Veteran - Logistics Specialist (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's an exciting shift from my previous work, and it involves skill development.
- The payment for certification is a significant incentive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Nevada)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautiously optimistic; managing equine populations humanely is crucial.
- I hope this helps control populations effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Veteran - Mechanic (Arizona)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's nice to have a program focused on veterans and wildlife conservation.
- I have concerns about how sustainable the funding might be.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Rancher (Montana)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Managing horse populations is critical to prevent overgrazing.
- Involving veterans is a novel approach, yet budget execution is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Environmental Scientist (Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Innovative policies like these show promise for sustainable wildlife management.
- The collaboration with veterans is a noteworthy social benefit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Veteran - Wildlife Manager (Pennsylvania)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy directly impacts my work and career goals positively.
- Hope the policy's continuity through funding is strong.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Conservationist (Wyoming)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Effective use of scientific methods like PZP is a step forward.
- Veteran involvement is a progressive approach but needs monitoring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired - Bureau of Land Management (Nevada)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Using veterans can bring about fresh perspectives to ongoing challenges.
- The longevity and effectiveness of the program are contingent on appropriate funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7200000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $7200000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $7400000 (Low: $5200000, High: $10200000)
Year 5: $7600000 (Low: $5400000, High: $10500000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Fiscal impact can fluctuate based on the efficacy and scale of the fertility control program.
- Long-term savings may vary depending on the success in reducing herd sizes and associated federal care costs.