Take a stand with us on horse legislation pending right now in Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Here is where The Horse Fund stands on horse legislation pending right now in the nation’s capital. We invite you to please join us.

THE 115th CONGRESS (2017-2018)

• H.R. 113 — ENDORSE

THE SAFE ACT — Outlawing the slaughter of U.S. horses at home and abroad.

Committees: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce » Subcommittee on Health; Referred to House Agriculture Committee »  Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture (or essentially “four committeed”.

Co-sponsors: 86 (as of this writing).

Learn more and take action »  Or go straight to POPVOX and add your voice »

• H.R. 1338 — OPPOSE

HORSE PROTECTION AMENDMENTS ACT

Introduced in the House on March 2, 2017 by:

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-4-TN)
2301 Rayburn House Office Building
(202) 225-6831
https://desjarlais.house.gov/

No Summary. See https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1338/text »

Committee(s): House Energy and Commerce » Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection

Co-Sponsors: 10 (*Originating Co-Sponsors)

Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Black, Diane [R-TN-6]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. “Chuck” [R-TN-3]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5]*	03/02/2017
Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4]	03/17/2017

OPPOSE H.R. 1338. The intention of this piece of legislation is to weaken the PAST (Prevent All Soring Tactics) Act by putting inspections in the hands of the abusers in the gaited horse community. The co-sponsors are all proponents of Big Lick competitions and therefore the egregious cruelty that goes hand in hand with it.

See Roy Exum: “Our Horses vs. DesJarlais“; The Chattanoogan; July 27, 2016.  See also “AHC Opposes Horse Protection Act bill introduced by DesJarlais” on their website.

— Alternatively SUPPORT H.R. 1847 (see below or go here).

• H.R. 1804 — Under Review

RACE HORSE COST RECOVERY ACT OF 2017

Introduced in U.S. House on March 30, 2017 by:

Rep. Andy Barr (R-6-KY)
1427 Longworth House Office Building
(202) 225-4706
https://barr.house.gov/

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the accelerated depreciation allowance for race horses to allow a three-year recovery period for any race horse. (Current law limits the three-year recovery period to race horses placed in service before January 1, 2017, and race horses placed in service after December 31, 2016, that are more than two years old when placed in service by the purchaser.)

Committee(s) — House Ways and Means

Co-Sponsors: 0

• H.R. 1805 — Under Review

EQUINE TAX PARITY ACT OF 2017

Introduced in U.S. House on March 30, 2017 by:

Rep. Andy Barr (R-6-KY)
1427 Longworth House Office Building
(202) 225-4706
https://barr.house.gov/

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the preferential tax treatment of gains and losses from the sale of depreciable property used in a trade or business, to eliminate “horses” from the definition of “livestock” (thus making the 24-month holding period requirement for livestock inapplicable to horses and allowing horses to be treated as capital assets subject to the existing 1-year holding period requirement).

Committee(s) — House Ways and Means

Co-Sponsors: 0

Comment: Isn’t it rich? While Kentucky State lawmakers rush a bill through reducing the status of Kentucky horses from that of a domestic animal to a livestock animal,  you have a U.S. Representative from Kentucky sponsoring a federal law that would “eliminate ‘horses’ from the definition of ‘livestock’ ” in the Internal Revenue Code. Which is it boys and girls?

Why can’t these brainiacs get together and give horses their own, unique and significant classification and build from there, not only elevating and protecting horses but also building in financial incentives for those who do so. Takers, anyone? —Editor.

• H.R. 1806 — Under Review

TO AMEND THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO ALLOW THE EXPENSING OF RACE HORSES

Introduced in U.S. House on March 30, 2017 by:

Rep. Andy Barr (R-6-KY)
1427 Longworth House Office Building
(202) 225-4706
https://barr.house.gov/

No written summary. Go here to read the Bill’s full text »

Committee(s) — House Ways and Means

Co-Sponsors: 0

• H.R. 1847 — ENDORSE

THE PAST ACT — Closes the loopholes in the Horse Protection Act that will eliminate Big Lick animal cruelty.

Committee(s): Referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Co-Sponsors: 2o8 Originating Co-Sponsors; 220 Co-Sponsors as of this writing.

Read more and take action »  Or go straight to POPVOX and add your voice »

• H.R. 2032 — Under Review

COROLLA WILD HORSES PROTECTION ACT

Introduced April 6, 2017 by Rep. Walter C. Jones (R-NC-3). Co-Sponsors: 0. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summary: This bill directs the Department of the Interior to enter into an agreement within 180 days with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, Currituck County, North Carolina, and the state of North Carolina to provide for the management of free-roaming wild horses in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.

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LEGISLATIVE RESOURCE: Congress.gov »

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• Why do Kentucky lawmakers appear to despise horses? »

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