Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline

Detailed history of State and Federal attempts to ban the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption. Linked by year. It all began in California in 1998 . . .

YEARSSESSION OF CONGRESS
1998  2002 Includes 107th U.S. Congress
2003 — 2004 Includes 108th U.S. Congress
2005 — 2006 Includes 109th U.S. Congress
2007 — 2008Includes 110th U.S. Congress
2009 — 2010 Includes 111th U.S. Congress
2011 — 2012 Includes 112th U.S. Congress
2013 — 2014 Includes 113th U.S. Congress
2015 — 2016Includes 114th U.S. Congress
2017 — 2018Includes 115th U.S. Congress
2019 — 2020Includes 116th U.S. Congress
Compiled by Vivian Grant and Jane Allin

Last updated January 10, 2020

Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline 2019—2020

116th U.S. Congress (2019 — 2020)

DATE VENUE ACTIVITY STATUS
1st Session, February 4, 2019 U.S. House H.R.961 Introduced by Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL-9)

Referred to Energy and CommerceAgriculture Committees

Read Bill Text
View Cosponsors

Pending

TAKE ACTION!

SUPPORT H.R.961

1st Session, March 1, 2019 U.S. House HR.961 referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Pending
1st Session, June 25, 2019 U.S. House Voted 227-194 to pass a large package of fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills to fund several federal departments, including Agriculture, Interior and Commerce (H.R.3055). Prohibits USDA spending on horse slaughter inspections, effectively preventing the reopening of horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. for FY20 (Oct. 1, 2019 — Sept. 30, 2020)
1st Session, June 27, 2019 U.S. Senate S.2006 Introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary

View Cosponsors

Pending

Take Action — Support S.2006

RESULT: BILL FAILS

Contributor(s): Vivian Farrell

THF 2019 Logo. ©The Horse Fund.

Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline 2018

115th U.S. Congress (2017 — 2018)

DATE VENUE ACTIVITY STATUS
115th Congress, 2nd Session U.S. House of Representatives HR 113 — Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2017 (The SAFE Act), introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (F-FL-16), on January 3, 2017, achieves bipartisan support with 218 Co-Sponsors.

Bill Stalls in the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture by the House Agriculture Committee.

Bill Stalls in the Subcommittee on Health by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Never makes it to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture where it would have inevitably stalled or failed.

Dies in Committee.

Never reaches the House or Senate for a vote.

HR 113 FAILS.

Contributors: Vivian Farrell

HR=House Resolution, e.g. HR 113
HB=House Bill
SB=Senate Bill
S=SenateTHF 2019 Logo. ©The Horse Fund.

 

Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline 2017

115th U.S. Congress (2017 — 2018)

DATE VENUE ACTIVITY STATUS
Jan. 3, 2017 U.S. House of Representatives HR 113 — Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2017 (The SAFE Act), introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (F-FL-16), January 3, 2017.

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem equine (horses and other members of the equidae family) parts to be an unsafe food additive or animal drug.

The bill prohibits the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts for human consumption.

The SAFE Act is intended to close the export to slaughter loophole as well as ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption on US soil.

1/3/2017 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture.

1/13/2017 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture by the House Agriculture Committee.

1/25/2017 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health by the House Energy and Commerce Committee

Track all actions on this Bill.

January 4, 2017 U.S. House and Senate HR 244 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017. This bill provides FY2017 appropriations for most federal agencies for the remainder of FY2017. Becomes Public Law No: 115-31, May 5, 2017.

See (Sec. 762) Prohibits funds from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.*

* Section Title I, DEPT OF INTERIOR — Prohibits appropriations provided by this division from being used for: (1) the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the BLM or its contractors; or (2) the sale of wild horses and burros that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products (i.e. cannot sell them for slaughter).

Go to Legislative Timeline 2018 »


Contributors: Vivian Farrell

HR=House Resolution, e.g. HR 113
HB=House Bill
SB=Senate Bill
S=Senate
FY=For Year . . .

THF 2019 Logo. ©The Horse Fund.

Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline 2016

114th U.S. Congress (2015—2016)

DATE VENUE ACTIVITY STATUS
April 26, 2016 U.S. House of Representatives HR 5054 — (Sec. 762)

Prohibits funds from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.

This effectively bans horse slaughter for human consumption on U.S. soil intended for export.

Reported to House without amendments.

The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 114-531, by Mr. Aderholt. (04/26/2106)

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 410. (04/26/2016).

June 16, 2016 U.S. Senate S 3068 – Prohibits appropriations provided by this bill from being used for:

(1) the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the BLM or its contractors;

or (2) the sale of wild horses and burros that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products.

Introduced in Senate (06/16/2016)

Sent to Committee on Appropriations.

Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski. With written report No. 114-281. (06/16/2016)

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 521 (06/16/2016)

June 19, 2016 U.S. Senate S 2956 (Sec. 755).

Prohibits funds from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.

This effectively bans horse slaughter for human consumption on US soil.

Reported to Senate without amendments (05/19,2016).

Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Moran. With written report No. 114-259. (05/19/2016)

June 21, 2016 U.S. House of Representatives HR 5538 – Prohibits appropriations provided by this bill from being used for:

(1) the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the BLM or its contractors;

or (2) the sale of wild horses and burros that results in their destruction for processing into commercial products.

Introduced in House (06/21/2016)

The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H Rept. 114-632, by Mr. Calvert. (06/21/2016)

Passed/agreed to in House.

Passed by Yeas and Nays: 231-196 (07/14/2016)

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 587.  (09/06/2016)

Contributor: Jane Allin

©The Horse Fund 2019 Logo in Orange.

Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline 2015

State and Federal Legislation
114th U.S. Congress (2015—2016)

DATE VENUE ACTIVITY STATUS
January 28, 2015 Maryland General Assemby, 435th Session Introduction of House Bill HB 151 which prohibits a person from buying, selling, transporting, or offering or receiving for sale or transportation (1) any equine carcass or the meat of any equine if the person knows or reasonably should know that the carcass or meat will be used for human consumption or (2) any equine if the person knows or reasonably should know that the equine is intended for slaughter for human consumption. Referred to Environment and Transportration Committee. Pending (see March 2, 2015).
February 11, 2015 New Mexico State Legislature Introduction of House Bill HB 410 entitled “NO SLAUGHTER OR TRANSFER OF HORSES FOR FOOD” banning the slaughter or transfer of horses for slaughter for human consumption. Sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque. If successful, would close the New Mexico/Mexico border to horses intended for slaughter. Referred to House Committee on Agriculture, Water and Wildlife. Pending (see March 2, 2015).
March 2, 2015 Maryland General Assemby, 435th Session MD anti horse slaughter bill HB 151 debated in Committee. Reportedly received an Unfavorable Report by Environment and Transportation. Bill likely to die in Committee.
March 2, 2015 New Mexico State Legislature NM anti horse slaughter bill HB 410 tabled by House Committee on Agriculture, Water and Wildlife. Dies in Committee. New Mexico continues to export thousands of horses to Mexico for slaughter every year. So far this year the USDA reports the United States has sent more than 12,000 horses across its southern border for slaughter.
April 22, 2015 U.S. House of Representatives H.R. 1942, entitled “A bill to prevent human health threats posed by the consumption of equines raised in the United States”, also called the SAFE Act, is introduced April 22, 2015. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Frank C. Guinta (R-NH-1) and has 41 originating co-sponsors (view here).

The bill bas been “two committeed”: The Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Agriculture.

Track this bill at www.govtrack.us.

If successful, H.R. 1942 will prevent the re-establishment of horse slaughter on U.S. soil, bar the live export of horses for the purposes of slaughter, and protect the public from the consumption of toxic horse meat.
May 6, 2015 U.S. Senate S. 1214, entitled “A bill to prevent human health threats posed by the consumption of equines raised in the United States”, also called the SAFE Act, was introduced May 6, 2015. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Robert (Bob) Menendez (D-NJ) and has 8 originating co-sponsors (view here).

The bill has been referred to a single Committee: The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Track this bill at www.govtrack.us.

If successful, S. 1214 will prevent the re-establishment of horse slaughter on U.S. soil, bar the live export of horses for the purposes of slaughter, and protect the public from the consumption of toxic horse meat.
May 15, 2015 U.S. House of Representatives H.R. 1942 called the SAFE Act was referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture by the Committee on Agriculture.

The bill now has a total of 91 co-sponsors.

Track this bill at www.govtrack.us.

Subcommittee will consider the bill and will refer it back to the House Committee on Agriculture with its findings.
May 16, 2015 U.S. Senate S. 1214, referred to as the John Rainey Memorial Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, now has 11 co-sponsors (view here).

Track this bill at www.govtrack.us.

At least one “hold” has been put on this bill, reportedly by Sen. Mitch McConnell. He would neither admit nor deny. Legislation not enacted by the end of a Congress is cleared from the books. Bill dies.
December 18, 2015 U.S. House of Representatives HR-2029 U.S. Omnibus Bill – denies funding for the USDA to conduct inspections of horse meat intended for export, which prevents the return of horse slaughter to U.S. soil, for fiscal year 2016 (October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016).

12/18/2015 – Senate agrees to House Amendments by Yea-Nay Vote: 65-33. Presented to and signed by President 18/12/2015.

Became Public Law No. 114-113 effectively preventing the return of horse slaughter until Sept. 30, 2016.

See Congress.gov.

Contributors: Jane Allin, Vivian Farrell

©The Horse Fund 2019 Logo in Orange.

Go to 2016 Legislative Timeline »