Two of AWI’s priority equine bills were reintroduced at the end of February in recognition of National Horse Protection Day on March 1. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) sponsored the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (HR 1661/S 775) to permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. And the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (HR 1684) was reintroduced in the House by Reps. Buchanan, Schakowsky, Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Steve Cohen (D-TN). The PAST Act would protect Tennessee walking horses and related breeds from soring, which involves inflicting pain on a horse’s hooves and legs to elicit a high-stepping gait for competition. Both bills enjoy strong bipartisan support: The SAFE Act was introduced with over 100 original cosponsors, and the PAST Act was introduced with over 170 original cosponsors.
Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Julia Brownley (D-CA) reintroduced another AWI priority bill in the House, the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act (CAADRA, HR 712). This legislation would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to allow data collected by the federal government from state child protection agencies to include information about animal abuse as a risk factor for child abuse.
On February 5, AWI hosted a webinar to discuss how advocates can become more involved in defending against attempts to weaken or dismantle landmark conservation laws, while championing new gains for animal welfare. A recording of the webinar is available at awionline.org/roadmap2025. Click here for additional information on how you can use AWI’s online Action Center to contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose efforts to weaken the ESA, MMPA, and other vital laws; urge them to support legislation to stop the slaughter of American horses; and more.