Alex Lloyd Gross- File Photo Horses at a horse farm.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), along with Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Vern Buchanan (FL-16) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) introduced the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act to ban the harmful practice of “soring” horses. The legislation is endorsed by the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
“Horse soring is a vile and inhumane practice that must be prohibited,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “As co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I am proud to introduce the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act to protect horses and I hope our colleagues will join us in passing this important, bipartisan legislation.”
“I have been working to end horse soring since before I came to Congress and was pleased to see the PAST Act’s passage in the House of Representatives last year. As a longstanding member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, recently recognized with the Humane Society’s ‘Humane Horseman’ award, I am proud to work with horse lovers and advocates to end the barbaric practice of intentionally injuring these noble creatures to win beauty contests,” said Congressman Cohen. “I’d like to extend special thanks to Priscilla Presley who has been a consistent and dedicated advocate for this reform as both she and Elvis loved our elegant walking horses.”
“The practice of horse ‘soring’ is nothing less than animal torture,” said Congressman Buchanan. “As the co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I am pleased to back this legislation to end this inhumane practice. Anyone who abuses horses in this manner should be held accountable.”
“As a strong supporter of animal rights, and as a former horse owner, we must end the inhumane practice of horse soring. I am proud to reintroduce the bipartisan PAST Act with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Steve Cohen (TN-09), and Vern Buchanan (FL-16). This bill would prohibit the intentional injury to the hooves and legs of performance walking horses,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “Let us build upon our strong momentum from the last Congress and finally push the PAST Act over the finish line.”
“Horse ‘soring’ is one of the worst cruelties imaginable—where scofflaw trainers deliberately torment Tennessee walking horses to get them to fling their front legs high, just to win a cheap blue ribbon in a show ring. It’d be like forcing an Olympian to wear broken glass in her shoes so the pain will make her leap higher over the hurdles,” said Sara Amundson, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We are grateful to the steadfast House champions—Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Steve Cohen, Vern Buchanan, and Jan Schakowsky—and to the many legislators who stepped up to demonstrate continued broad, bipartisan support for the PAST Act. We hope USDA will take note, too, and implement long-overdue reforms to strengthen its enforcement to end this torture.”
Read the text of the bill HERE.