Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.-16) introduced the Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act, a bipartisan bill that would use unmanned aerial systems for the humane roundup and management of wild horses and burros saving people time and money.
“I’m in the business of tackling waste, fraud, and abuse — and this bill would do just that,” said Vindman. “The LASSO Act is designed to lower costs for taxpayers, strengthen the American drone industry, and promote responsible stewardship of our public lands, while preserving one of our nation’s most iconic symbols: the wild horse.”
“America’s wild horses and burros are a beloved symbol of the American spirit and deserve protection and humane treatment,” said Buchanan. “As Co-Chairman of the Animal Protection Caucus, I’m proud to join Congressman Vindman in introducing the LASSO Act to ensure humane care, modernize land management and save taxpayer dollars.”
The bill authorizes a five-year pilot program, allocating $100,000 annually from the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) $142 million Wild Horse and Burro Program budget to test new herd stewardship and population control strategies using drones. It also requires that the award go to an organization or university with a proven track record of using drones to corral equines and mandates that the drones be produced in the United States.
BACKGROUND
The BLM spends roughly $142 million each year to round up, house, and feed wild horses and burros on federal lands. The roundup process itself is dangerous — often resulting in injuries or deaths — and has prompted growing concern about the safety and sustainability of current management methods.
China controls 90% of the U.S. drone market and 80% globally. Investing in the American drone industry would not only protect wild horse and burro herds, but also reinforce supply‑chain resilience, safeguard our national security, and rebuild American manufacturing.
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