Barbi Twins photo, licensed for free public download at OfficialBarbiTwins.com
The “Restore Our American Mustangs Act,” HR 1018, which was passed by the House of Representatives in February and is now pending in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has received some unexpected support from a pair of models known as the Barbi Twins. Shane Barbi and Sia Barbi became famous as Playboy playmates when they posed together in nude photos as the Barbi Twins in the 1990s. Since that time, they have become outspoken advocates on animal rights issues. They are now advocating for the Senate to pass the mustang protection bill and enact the legislation into law.
The mustang legislation expands the range of wild mustangs, and provides additional protections against their slaughter. The legislation summary states that the bill:
Requires the Secretary of the Interior (for Bureau of Land Management- [BLM] administered lands) or the Secretary of Agriculture (for Forest Service-administered lands) to: (1) update the inventory of such animals annually and make it publicly available on the BLM website; (2) take specified actions to estimate populations of, and establish management levels for, such animals; (3) identify new rangelands, arrange for supervised protection on private lands, and establish sanctuaries or exclusive use areas for such animals; (4) implement enhanced surgical or immunocontraception sterilization or other safe methods of fertility control; (5) exhaust all practicable options of maintaining horse and burro populations in the range before providing for the capture and removal of excess animals for private maintenance; (6) take specified actions to promote the adoption program; (7) temporarily remove horses or burros from the range if their immediate health or safety is threatened; and (8) provide specified public information on animal removals, range changes, and treatment.
Requires adopters of horses and burros to affirm that adopted animals will not be slaughtered for human consumption. Prohibits: (1) the use of helicopters or other airborne devices to remove such animals; (2) containing such animals in holding facilities for more than six months while awaiting disposition; or (3) the destruction of such an animal unless the Secretary determines it is terminally ill.
Opponents of the bill, such as Republican Representive Doc Hastings of Washington, essentially dismiss the legislation as a waste of time and money. But supporters of the bill, such as the Barbi Twins and Willie Nelson's daughter Amy Nelson, argue that most Americans are opposed to the slaughter of wild mustangs. They believe that most Americans, including President Obama, will support the bill.
The House version of the bill was sponsored by Democratic Representative Nick J. II Rahall, of West Virginia. It passed the House on July 17, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on July 19.
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