MISSOURI'S 2 SENATORS JOIN IN PROTECTING WILD HORSES

Missouri's two senators have joined to keep wild horses roaming throughout the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond has introduced and Sen. John Ashcroft has co-signed the Ozark Wild Horse Protection Act to prevent the National Park Service from removing some 30 free-roaming horses for relocation or slaughter, except in medical emergencies or natural disasters.

Bond said Southeast Missouri citizens have been struggled with the Park Service since 1990 to protect these horses. Bond's bill is companion legislation to Rep. Bill Emerson's version introduced in the House in January.

Bond said the Park Service's intention to remove the horses was another case of bureaucrats thinking they know best and disregarding the views of local citizens, adding that the Park Service would find it difficult to even round-up the horses that roam over 71,000 acres.

Ashcroft said he heard about protecting the horses from many Southeast Missourians during the 1994 campaign.

The horses are lucky to be free after the Park Service has attempted to have them removed for years.

Emerson will be joined in Washington by three members of the Missouri Wild Horse League for a congressional hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday on his proposed bill before the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands.

Making the trip will be Doug Kennedy, a Poplar Bluff attorney and legal counsel for the horse league; Alan Akers, horse league president; and Jim Smith, a founding member of the organization.

Emerson said he was pleased these key representatives of the 3,000-member group would testify about why they want the horses to be able to roam as they have for 60 years.