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H.R. 1661: Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 (SAFE Act), proposes to amend the existing Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The key focus of this bill is to prohibit the slaughter of equines (which include horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules) for human consumption in the United States. Here are the main points of what the bill would accomplish:

Amendments to Definitions

The bill seeks to change the legal language concerning the treatment of certain animals. Specifically:

  • It will update terms from "dogs and cats" to "dogs, cats, and equines" in the relevant sections of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.
  • The terminology used throughout will be updated to replace references to "a dog or cat" with "a dog, cat, or equine."

Prohibition on Slaughter

The primary provision of the bill is a clear prohibition against the slaughter of equines for the purpose of human consumption. This means that no equines would be allowed to be processed for food to be sold for human consumption.

Context and Rationale

The bill is positioned as a response to concerns about the welfare of equines and seeks to address issues relating to their treatment and the ethics of slaughtering such animals for food. Supporters argue that equines should not be considered food animals and should be protected from slaughter for human consumption.

Oversight and Enforcement

The bill indicates that the prohibition would align with existing regulations and enforcement mechanisms already established under the Agriculture Improvement Act. This ensures that, should the bill pass, there would be a framework in place to enforce these new prohibitions.

Final Remarks

This proposed legislation reflects an ongoing conversation about animal rights and the treatment of equines in the United States, aiming to ensure their protection from slaughter for human food sources.

Relevant Companies

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Sponsors

122 bill sponsors

Actions

3 actions

Date Action
Mar. 28, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Feb. 27, 2025 Introduced in House
Feb. 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Corporate Lobbying

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