Ask Congress to support our country's grasslands

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the American bison, also known as buffalo, becoming the national mammal of the United States. Buffalo holds a special place in our culture because its story is closely intertwined with our nation's history. Now, we need action from Congress to uphold buffalo's importance to our environment, food security, and cultural heritage.

Deliberate killing of buffalo during westward expansion nearly decimated this majestic species. Thanks to restoration efforts led by Tribal Nations in partnership with conservationists, the buffalo population has grown from less than 1,000 in the late 1800s to nearly half a million today. But the number of buffalo today is still far short of the tens of millions that once roamed the Great Plains.

Please cosponsor the bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act (S. 3478 / H.R. 7954) introduced by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA), which would direct the Interior Department to support Tribal Nations that have buffalo programs or would like to establish new herds.

The Interior Department has provided support and funding for buffalo management for decades. This bill would expand and strengthen the government-to-government support in recognition of the critical role that Tribal Nations play in bringing buffalo back. Restoring buffalo unlocks environmental, economic, and cultural benefits well beyond this one species:

• Supporting grasslands wildlife and ecosystems: Bison shape grasslands and wildlife habitat through grazing, wallowing, and nutrient cycling, which increases plant diversity. They also aerate soil with their hooves, which promotes water absorption and microbial enrichment. Other species like pronghorn antelope and elk rely on paths through the snow that bison create in the winter.


• Supporting food security: Bison is one of the healthiest and leanest forms of protein – even more lean than chicken, salmon and turkey. Growing and restoring the population improves food availability in some of the most food-scarce areas of the United States. Food security is essential to public health, community well-being, and national security. 


• Supporting Native American cultures: For many Native Nations, restoring buffalo to the Great Plains grasslands is part of restoring their culture and community. And for all Americans, this majestic animal symbolizes our country's strength and resilience in the face of challenges. 

The Senate unanimously passed this bipartisan legislation during the last Congress. Now is the time to get this important measure over the finish line. Thank you for considering this request to help Tribes restore the national mammal that is integral to our shared history and our shared future.

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