Large sums secured for Horse Protection Act and alternatives to animal testing

The latest Congressional spending bill to fund government operations in 2023 includes a record-level of $4.1 million to enforce the Horse Protection Act (HPA) of 1970—that’s $1 million more than the prior year’s record funding level of $3 million.

This is consequential because a segment of horse trainers tortures horses to get them to exaggerate their gait and win ribbons at horse shows. With more inspections, Animal Wellness Action will be able to crack down on some level of lawlessness until the 52-year-old law can be upgraded next year.

Until the nonprofit started pressing for more funding in 2018, the HPA never saw more than $705,000 in funding per year since the HPA was enacted in 1970.

Animal Wellness Action also recently succeeded in securing an additional $5 million in new money to support an FDA-wide New Alternative Methods Program to reduce animal testing (total is $12.5 million).

Animal Wellness Action also recently succeeded in securing an additional $5 million in new money to support an FDA-wide New Alternative Methods Program to reduce animal testing (total is $12.5 million).

The FDA Modernization Act 2.0 includes both the original FDA Modernization Act and also the Reducing Animal Testing Act to eliminate a federal mandate for animal testing for new drugs and for biosimilars. This law, passed by federal lawmakers in December and signed into law shortly thereafter, promises to reboot a broken drug development paradigm. If it is vigorously implemented, the new law will deliver safer, more effective, more reliable palliatives and cures to people in need — all while saving millions of animals from the cruelties of drug-testing.