1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) As part of efforts to control equine populations under law, the Bureau of Land Management is directed to humanely capture wild free-roaming horses and burros for adoption. (2) The use of helicopters to chase equines over prolonged distances, usually on rough terrain, is particularly dangerous, and can frighten the animals and lead to deadly situations. (3) In January 2022, during the horse gathering at the Pancake Complex in central Nevada, a young colt was chased for miles by helicopter, ultimately gravely injuring itself, and necessitating the need for the animal to be shot and killed. (4) Scientific research shows that more humane and cost-effective alternatives exist to control equine populations, including fertility controls. (5) Since fiscal year 2006, Bureau of Land Management contractors have collected at least $57.4 million in taxpayer funding for roundups that utilize the use of helicopters, including bait-and-trap methods. (6) Since fiscal year 2017, the Bureau of Land Management has obligated at least $22.5 million in taxpayer funding for the specific purpose of helicopter roundups, including $6.5 million in fiscal year 2022 alone. (7) Currently, the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program spends less than one percent of its budget on implementing fertility controls. (8) The elimination of helicopters from the Bureau of Land Management’s gatherings would provide a more humane method of capturing equines, and provide significant savings to taxpayers. 3. Amendments to the Wild Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act Section 9 of the Act commonly known as the Wild Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act ( Public Law 92–195 ; 16 U.S.C. 1338a ) is amended— (1) by striking In administering this Act and inserting (a) In general .—In administering this Act