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118th Congress Agriculture and Food

H.R. 3475: SAFE Act of 2023

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)May 18, 2023
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, May 18, 2023

This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.)

Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly

  • slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or
  • shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.
Read the full summary

The bill subjects a violator to a fine.

The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony.

In recent years, appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

236

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

24 points earned
  1. 1Vern Buchanan R-FL SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reached a cosponsor milestone5 events+24
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Vern Buchanan

History

  1. May 18, 2023Introduced in the House by Vern Buchanan.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
  1. Jun 23, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
  2. May 18, 2023Introduced in House
  3. May 18, 2023Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.