At a crowded hearing, lawmakers wept after hearing the grief from family members of Romanch Mahajan, who lost his life after a celebratory ride turned into a crash site. In June, Romanch Mahajan, an Indian national celebrating his acceptance to college with a trip to New York, was killed after the horse hitched to the … Read more
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman leaves out the SOB Act but leaves other key animal welfare policies, including animal fighting and horse slaughter, for the full committee to handle It was good news yesterday when Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., released his draft Farm bill, which omits the wicked Save Our Bacon (SOB) Act. … Read more
GOP lawmakers cite New World Screwworm threat, animal welfare concerns, and unyielding public opposition to horse slaughter WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today applauded a group of 17 House Republicans led by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., for sending a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him … Read more
New World Screwworm Menaces Cattle, Horses Animal disease is an animal welfare issue. When animals are sick, they suffer. When we can prevent debilitating illness in animals, it’s critical we do so. With small but growing numbers of cases in the Southwest, New World screwworm is a disease that should concern everybody — from cattle … Read more
Veterinary experts say screwworm threat highlights unnecessary disease risks posed by cross-border horse transport WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to immediately suspend exports of horses and other animals to Mexico following the detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in … Read more
Bipartisan Van Drew–Titus amendment in Transportation and Infrastructure Committee would end export of American horses for slaughter and ban cruel double-decker transport WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action today hailed a major bipartisan victory for America’s horses after the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved an amendment to the Build America 250 Act, H.R. 8870, incorporating … Read more
With just one slaughter plant remaining in Canada, and none in the U.S., we must mount a discharge petition to shut down live horse exports to Mexico for slaughter Bouvry Exports — the Alberta-based horse slaughter operation long fed a supply of kidnapped American horses to be butchered, with the cuts of meat then exported … Read more
“The Rules Committee blocked four GOP-led amendments on animal welfare that were headed to passage, including the Luna-Costa-Garbarino amendment to nix a provision to federally preempt state laws to combat extreme and inhumane confinement of breeding pigs,” said Pacelle. “The Agriculture Committee should not be allowed to wipe out the votes of 10 million American … Read more
Congress banned domestic horse slaughter years ago, yet thousands of American horses are still shipped overseas to be killed. Twenty years ago, in testimony delivered to the members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, the late wildcatter and billionaire businessman T. Boone Pickens rightly labeled horse slaughter “America’s dirty little secret.” Most lawmakers … Read more
Time for lawmakers to demand a vote on broadly popular, bipartisan legislation to end the decades-long era of slaughtering American horses for stew and steak in distant countries Washington, D.C. — A handful of Members of Congress should stop obstructing the passage of legislation to ban exports of live horses from the U.S. to Mexico … Read more
H.R. 3475 would, among other things, halt inhumane trafficking of healthy horses to Mexico and Canada to be butchered for reexport to Asia Washington D.C. — Yesterday, with Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M. and Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., cosponsoring the federal anti-horse slaughter legislation, known as the SAFE Act, H.R. 3475 reached a critical political threshold: a majority … Read more
Congress is overdue to halt live exports of horses for consumption,fighting animals for combat, mink pelts for fashion, and bear bile as a potion. Many domestic forms of animal exploitation survive, and even thrive, because the people behind these enterprises tap foreign markets for their cruelty and contraband, whether they’re peddling live animals or animal … Read more
Animal welfare groups condemn uptick in slaughter, call for action on Farm bill WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA export data reveals that kill buyers shipped 17,997 horses from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to slaughter plants in Mexico in 2023. This was the most significant annual percentage increase of live exports since 2012. Final numbers are … Read more
Legislation is critical and timely as federal lawmakers work on legislation to ban any slaughter of American horses anywhere in North America Albany, NY — Animal Wellness Action, Center for a Humane Economy, and Animal Wellness Foundation applauded New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing into law S2163B/A06109, a bill to ban horse slaughter in New York. The … Read more
Prime Minister Trudeau recently spoke out against horse slaughter, and American groups and famed American actress ask Biden to speak up, too Washington, D.C. – Actress Katherine Heigl joined Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, along with several leading horse racing organizations in sending a letter to the White House today, … Read more
Press Release Given the staggering number of violations, the state racing board should ‘immediately ban’ trainer Dan Blacker. The Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action called on the California Horse Racing Board to immediately ban trainer Dan Blacker after the Los Angeles Times reported he has been cited 527 times for violating … Read more
A predatory industry has been in steep decline, but still chews up horses for foreign diners With lawmakers in Congress set to complete work on the Farm Bill in the coming months, it’s our moment to pass legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses for the meat trade. This includes halting live exports of … Read more
Federal bills in the Senate and House come after Center for a Humane Economy and Animals’ Angels Investigation Exposed Rampant, Unrelenting Cruelty to Horses in Slaughter Pipeline Washington, D.C. — Senators Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced anti-horse slaughter legislation late this week, on the heels of a joint investigation and analysis released … Read more
House Appropriations Committee includes language to defund USDA inspections of horse slaughter plants, in step with Americans’ values about protecting equines WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Animal Wellness Action applauded lawmakers in Congress for approving provisions in the annual federal agriculture and FDA appropriations bill to prohibit USDA inspections for horse slaughter. The action aligns with the … Read more
Legislation is critical and timely as federal lawmakers work on horse protection language and bills Albany, NY — Today a diverse group of animal welfare organizations, industry representatives, veterinarians, and individual advocates issued a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her to sign A5109A to ban horse slaughter in New York into law. The legislation, which passed by … Read more
You won’t find the sight or scent of horse meat on the menus of any rib joint or steakhouse in America. Horses have always been more than mere table fare in the long-running story of the United States. Eating horses was something reserved for desperate settlers in 19th-century America — like the famed Donner Party … Read more
Press Release Cruelty to “Kill” Horses Is Rampant and Unrelenting Even As the Scale of Slaughter Retreats With Plummeting Demand in the Old World Washington, D.C. – A joint investigation and analysis released today and conducted by the Center for a Humane Economy, Animal Wellness Action, and Animals’ Angels reveals that the extraterritorial slaughter of … Read more
We secured the most important reforms ever against animal testing, while ending legal animal fighting and commercial cub-petting throughout U.S. The year 2022 turned out to be a remarkable one for the Center for a Humane Economy, Animal Wellness Action, and the Animal Wellness Foundation. We secured many tangible gains. We put a punctuation mark … Read more
Press Release Equine Protection Groups Urge US Government to Pass Bill to Stop Slaughter of American Horses Washington, D.C. – A coalition of equine advocacy groups representing supporters across the United States has joined together to urge members of Congress to move a popular bill to the floor of the House for a vote. The … Read more
Move Follows Animal Wellness Action’s Submission of More than 330 Pages of Written Testimony and Collateral Material on PAST and SAFE Acts Last Month WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Animal Wellness Action and its affiliates applauded the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, led by Chairwoman Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., … Read more
Washington, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce – which just recently included the FDA Modernization Act as a rider to a larger FDA reform bill to address needless animal testing – announced it is also going to dive into debates about the treatment of horses in the United States. … Read more
Ongoing concerns address wild horse management practices Reno, Nevada – A coalition of wild horse and animal protection organizations continues to press its case against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its dangerous and expansive 10-year roundup plan for the Pancake Complex in central Nevada. Additional briefing in federal district court has been filed … Read more
When it comes to eating animals, certain species are off limits. American don’t eat dogs or cats; they are our companions. We don’t eat horses either; they’ve carried us into battle and helped us settle the nation. Yet, in a contradiction that cannot endure, the U.S. has been a “producer” nation when it comes to … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Washington-based non-profit political advocacy group that worked to pass the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act through the U.S. House in 2019, applauded appropriators in Congress for their inclusion of the highest-ever funding levels for enforcement of the Horse Protection … Read more
New HPA Funding Provides USDA with Resources to Crackdown Against Soring of Tennessee Walking Horses Washington, D.C. – Today, Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Washington-based non-profit political advocacy group that worked to pass the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act through the U.S. House in 2019, applauded appropriators in Congress … Read more
Senate’s inaction rallies equine advocates to lobby against passage of infrastructure package if taken up by the House Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill without any provision to ban the export of live horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter for human consumption, putting in jeopardy the anti-slaughter provision … Read more
Press Release Ending Transport of Horses Across State and National Lines Will Have the Effect of Banning the Trade, Notes Animal Wellness Action WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, an amendment led by U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., John Katko, R-N.Y., Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. and conceived by Animal Wellness Action … Read more
Ending Transport of Horses Across State and National Lines Will Have the Effect of Banning the Trade, Notes Animal Wellness Action WASHINGTON, DC – Today, an amendment led by U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., John Katko, R-N.Y., Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. and conceived by Animal Wellness Action to H.R. … Read more
The horror of horse slaughter may figure prominently in the debate over president Joe Biden’s signature legislation to rebuild our American infrastructure, H.R. 3684, which the House takes up this week. When the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee took up the INVEST Act two weeks ago, Animal Wellness Action worked with Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., Brian Fitzpatrick, … Read more
Ending Transport of Horses Across State and National Lines Will Have the Effect of Banning the Trade, Notes Animal Wellness Action WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., John Katko, R-N.Y., Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. introduced an Animal Wellness Action-conceived amendment to H.R. 3684, the Investing in … Read more
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a multi-billion-dollar bill to boost American manufacturing to allow us to better compete with China. Tucked within it was a provision to ban selling shark fins in the United States. Meanwhile, a key House committee debated an amendment to stop the transport of American horses to foreign slaughter plans as … Read more
Key House Committee Can Adopt Key Anti-Horse Slaughter Provision Today, Congress takes up what is now a familiar topic – the transportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption. Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., John Katko, R-N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn. – all champions of animal welfare – have filed an amendment to the INVEST in … Read more
Ending Transport of Horses Across State and National Lines Will Have the Effect of Banning the Trade, Notes Animal Wellness Action WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and John Katko, R-N.Y., introduced an amendment to H.R. 3684, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation … Read more
When the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), ASPCA, and Return To Freedom announced their support for the so-called “Path Forward” – in a “deal” with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and other pro-slaugher organizations — they heralded it as a boon for horses. It’s turned out, so far, just as we’ve said: a … Read more
America was built on the backs of horses and in the coming weeks U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) plan to re-introduce the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act that would end the slaughter of American horses. The measure would prevent horse slaughter plants from operating in the U.S. and stop the … Read more
Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), Center for a Humane Economy (CHE), American Horse Protection Society, Join-Up International, and the Horses for Life Foundation commemorated the Golden Anniversary of the enactment of the bipartisan Horse Protection Act (HPA), signed into law on December 9, 1970 by … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Today, Animal Wellness Action (AWA), and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) called on the U.S. Senate to take up the Horse Transportation Safety Act, H.R. 1400, and for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to step up its existing regulatory enforcement program after yesterday’s news that 14 horses met a violent and tragic … Read more
But BLM Gets Millions for Horse and Burro Round-Ups, While USDA Gets Millions for Inhumane Predator Killing In 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) removed from a searchable website the animal welfare inspection records for puppy mills, horse shows (where “soring” is prevalent), laboratories using animals, and circuses and other public exhibitors of animals. … Read more
House Bill Scheduled for Markup Fully Funds PAWS Act, Doubles HPA Funding, and Maintains Horse Slaughter Ban Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee released its FY2021 Agriculture Appropriations package scheduled for votes by the Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations and the full Appropriations Committee this week. The package includes $3 million in funding … Read more
Animal Wellness Applauds Cohen’s Tireless Work for Horses WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1400, the Horse Transportation Safety Act, authored by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), that would ban the transportation of horses across state lines in ‘double decker’ trucks or trailers containing two or more levels stacked on top … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House executed the second of two hearings this week to address two long-standing animal welfare problems: the slaughter of American horses for overseas markets for human consumption. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee heard testimony on the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 961, led by … Read more
Legislation Would Keep Horse Slaughter Plants Closed in the U.S. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee included a provision in the FY2020 Agriculture Appropriations bill to maintain the ban on slaughtering horses in the U.S, thanks to Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Susan Collins (R-ME), all longtime leaders on … Read more
Proposal plays Russian roulette with wild horses and burros For years, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has mismanaged wild horses and burros, failing to invest in proven fertility control programs and instead rounding-up and removing thousands of wild horses and burros from our public lands and shipping them off to holding facilities. There, … Read more
Bill obtained 219 cosponsors in the 115th Congress Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) reintroduced the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (HR 961) to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. The legislation would prohibit the sale and transport of equines for slaughter, effectively preventing horse … Read more