“If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I am not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their own lives, but will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgement at those of us trying to dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism, and fear-mongering. If you’re criticizing from a place where you’re not also putting yourself on the line, I’m not interested in your feedback.”

― Brené Brown

Hello everyone!

We have some updated news on SB 2331 and SCR 4006.

We posted on social media that Senate Bill 2331 only received 14 of the 24 votes that it needed to pass.  SCR 4006 passed (I believe unanimously) by a voice vote.

It is GREAT that 4006 passed.  A resolution is nothing more than a request from the state of North Dakota.  We learned from 4014 that it does hold its own power, but on its own, it does NOT magically create federal legislation.  It just lets our federal legislators, Senator Hoeven, Senator Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak, know that we would like them to work on federal protection for this herd. 

SCR 4006 will now move over to the North Dakota House for committee hearings and votes as well as a full floor vote by the ND House.  REMEMBER: BOTH versions of this resolution have to be the same.  We will NOT be requesting any changes to this legislation. 

If the ND House votes to pass this resolution, then the ND Secretary of State will sign the resolution and send copies to our federal legislators.  Governor Armstrong DOES NOT have to sign resolutions. 

We viewed SB 2331 as part of the solution on our long road to get federal protection for this herd. 

No one is more disappointed than I am about SB 2331.  For the last few weeks, I feel like I have lived and breathed 2331.  My wild horse widower of a husband will agree I am sure. 

This changes nothing for Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates and our quest for federal protection for the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 

We continue moving forward.  This was one way that we hoped would help us with the bigger picture of federal protection.  We have already had some great conversations with Holly, from Bice Policy Group and head of our government relations team, and are getting plans together as we begin to move forward to FINALLY get federal protection for these historic wild horses. 

Senator Barta, who was the bill carrier as a representative of the State and Local Government Committee who recommended a “DO NOT PASS” in a 4-2 vote on SB 2331, stated that he received over 1,000 emails – mostly in support of SB 2331.  He agreed they heard great testimony and there is cause for concern for the future of the wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  Many of our legislators feel that with the confirmation of Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior, we have no reason to worry.  He will take care of it, as Senator Barta said. 

What they fail to realize is that:

1. Doug Burgum will not be Secretary of the Interior forever.  We need to take action NOW while we have support in the Department of the Interior. 
2. This was a small step in the bigger picture of federal protection we are working toward.

As I said, there are other avenues we can take, it was disappointing that most of our North Dakota legislators could not see the bigger picture. 

Some very good things DID come out of SB 2331 testimony.  We will share those in the coming days to highlight growing concerns from across the globe. 

We also did help raise awareness about valid concerns about the current management practices occurring to our wild horses in our national park.  SCR 4006 passed unanimously stating:

“WHEREAS, there are significant concerns regarding the management of the wild horse herd by Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the long-term health and preservation of the herd”

Just as with the helicopter roundup in October, we also see who is willing to do the work to fight for what is right for these iconic wild horses.  So many individuals and organizations sat quiet as we did everything we could do raise awareness about this legislation.  Some organizations made sure their board members testified – IN SUPPORT of BOTH SB 2331 AND SCR 4006 but failed to empower their followers to do the same. 

Sad, isn’t it?

It just shows who they are and what their level of “advocacy” for his herd really is.  When push comes to shove, Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates and our followers once again led the charge to do what was right for these horses, while others, once again, remained silent. 

Ad·vo·ca·cy

/ˈadvəkəsē/

noun

• 1.public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy:”their advocacy of traditional family values”
• ▪the profession or work of a legal advocate.

Word Origin late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin advocatia, from advocare ‘summon, call to one’s aid’ (see advocate).

Nowhere in that definition does it state that sharing pretty pictures and stories makes anyone an advocate.  Those pretty pictures will NOT get federal protection for this herd.

Once again, I am so proud to be part of this organization.  One that empowers our followers to stand up and be loud for what we believe in.

Together, over the last few weeks Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates worked hard to get SB 2331 AND SCR 4006 passed and also worked hard to educated the public about both pieces of legislation by:

1. Working with Holly at Bice Policy Group AND our ND legislators to draft and introduce BOTH pieces of legislation
2. Talking to local news stations
3. Talking to local newspapers
4. Being on local radio shows
5. Lobbying for BOTH pieces of legislation multiple days at the ND Capitol
6. Created a Horse Talk to help everyone understand how to submit their own testimony
7. Called on experts to testify for SB 2331 to help the committee understand the importance of this bill
8. Testified in person for BOTH SB 2331 and SCR 4006
9. Met with Committee members before the hearings to further try to explain why SB 2331 was important
10. Worked with our ND Legislators throughout this process on amendments and ways we could help support them in this process
11. Created several Calls to Action encouraging our followers to take action by contacting the committee and their own ND legislators
12. Encouraged our followers to write Letters to the Editor – MANY were printed!  THANK YOU!
13. Encouraged our followers to submit their own testimony – over 150 of you did!  THANK YOU AGAIN!
14. Collaborated with The Cloud Foundation, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) and In Defense of Animals to help being the TRNP wild horse legislative process to their followers to empower them to testify and contact legislators.
15. Collaborated with Kuntz Nokota Ranch, AWHC, Western Watersheds Project, and Dr. Castle McLaughlin to give expert testimony for SB 2331.  This led to very engaging conversations in the committee – so engaging that our 30 minute drop dead time was extended to 50 minutes!
16. Collaborated with The Wild Beauty Foundation & Kuntz Nokota Ranch and our followers to testify in favor of SCR 4006.
17. Encouraged our followers to email the committee AND for ND residents to contact their ND Legislators.  All in all, almost 2,000 emails were sent over the course of a few short days!  THANK YOU AGAIN!!

I am sure I could keep this list going on and on. 

THAT is how you ADVOCATE!!!

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates and our followers did everything we could to get SB 2331 to pass.  Be proud!  Senator Boschee said something similar to me the other day when I was trying to think of what else we could be doing.  He simply said, “You can only control what you’re able to do. And you are giving it your all in that department!”

Stand tall and be proud!

SB 2331 is NOT a loss for us – it just helps us see that there is a better way and that better way is already starting to take shape!

I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU to our legislators: Senator Rummel, Senator Kessel, Representative Lefor and Representative Steiner for being co- sponsors on this legislation.  I have to give a shout out to Representative Lefor for working with us for about a year now on this one piece of legislation.

Even bigger thanks go to my favorite senator from across the state in Fargo: Senator Josh Boschee.  Josh was instrumental in helping to get BOTH SB 2331 and SCR 4006 drafted, into legal counsel, explaining new aspects of this process to me and helping us raise our voices.  He is the primary sponsor of SB 2331 AND SCR 4006.  He testified in person at BOTH committee hearings and gave a compelling speech on the senate floor today, urging his peers to vote in favor of SB 2331. 

You can listen to the recording of the senate vote on SB 2331 here: https://video.ndlegis.gov/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20250212/4263/33014  Fast forward to 1:28:05 for the discussion on SB 2331.

As soon as the vote was over, I received a text from him apologizing for SB 2331 not being successful. 

I don’t want to have everyone email Senator Boschee – our legislators still have a lot of work to do.  Everyone SHOULD go over to his Facebook page and just say thank you for your support of SB 2331 AND SCR 4006 on any post on his page.  You will find Senator Boschee here: https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaBoschee44

I also want to thank our North Dakota legislators who voted YES! (listed below)  If your legislator is NOT on this list, feel free to contact them and let them know you are disappointed that they voted NO and did not listen to the voice of their constituents:

1. Senator Bekkedahl
2. Senator Boschee
3. Senator Braunberger
4. Senator Cleary
5. Senator Clemens
6. Senator Conley
7. Senator Hogan
8. Senator Kessel
9. Senator Marcellais
10. Senator Mathern
11. Senator Meyer
12. Senator Patten
13. Senator Rummel
14. Sentaor Rummel

You can find your senator’s contact information on the Senate roster here:

Onward and upward.  Our journey continues – we are on our way to much needed federal protection for the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park!  We have a long way to go – but we are getting there and TODAY was a step in that direction.

Have a great day and take a moment to celebrate!

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