118th Congress Agriculture and Food
S. 2037: SAFE Act of 2023
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
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.
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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
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Richard Blumenthal D-CTOriginal
- Cory Booker D-NJOriginal
- Susan Collins R-MEOriginal
- Dianne Feinstein D-CAOriginal
- John Fetterman D-PAOriginal
- Lindsey Graham R-SCOriginal
- John Kennedy R-LAOriginal
- Marco Rubio R-FLOriginal
- Sheldon Whitehouse D-RIOriginal
- Ted Budd R-NC
- Christopher Coons D-DE
Who scored on this bill
- 1Robert Menendez SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
Other bills by Robert Menendez
History
- Introduced in the Senate by Robert Menendez.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.