The SAFE Act H.R. 3475 in the House of Representatives, and S.2037 in the Senate

It’s May 1st and time is quickly running out for the SAFE Act for the 2023-2024 legislative session. The bill must be passed and signed into law by December 31, 2024 or we will have to start all over again in 2025. So far in the House, 186 Democrats are co sponsoring the bill, but only 36 Republicans are. In the Senate, we only have 11 co sponsors and we need at least 51.

Right now in the House of Representatives, the SAFE Act is included as an amendment in the Farm Bill. Getting support from the members of the Agriculture Committee is vital at this point! 

Below is a list of the Ag Committee members and I have marked which ones are co sponsoring the SAFE Act currently; this includes no Republicans on the committee and all but 2 of the Democrats members.

If your US Representative is NOT a co sponsor, then they NEED to hear from you ASAP! At this point, phone calls are best, emails and letters 2nd best. 

I have a packet of relevant information that you can print and mail to your Rep. This packet is what convinced my Rep, Jill Tokuda, to finally sign on to co sponsor the SAFE Act just 2 weeks ago! If you would like this packet, email me at kaya97524@yahoo.com   You simply print the pages, fill in your Reps name and mailing address and sign the letter. Then mail it to both the Rep’s DC office address and their local state office address. You can get this information on your Rep or Senators websites. 

Do NOT mention wild horse roundups when contacting your legislators about the SAFE Act; these are two different legislative issues and if you combine them, it will be too confusing for legislators.

When you call, your script is simple: “I am calling today to ask Representative  ___________________ to immediately co sponsor bill H.R. 3475 The SAFE Act of 2023, which is currently included as an amendment to the Farm Bill: ‘To amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption.’ This issue is very important to me, my family, and my fellow constituents in your district. Thank you, (your name)”

If your Rep or Senator is up for reelection this year, you can also mention that he/she will not receive your vote unless they support the SAFE Act this year.  

The House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Members:

Republicans:

Glenn Thompson (PA)

David Scott (GA)

Frank Lucas (OK)

Austin Scott (GA)

Rick Crawford (AR)

Scott DesJarlais (TN)

Doug LaMalfa (CA)

David Rouzer (NC)

Trent Kelly (MS)

Don Bacon (NE)

Mike Bost (IL)

Dusty Johnson (SD)

Jim Baird (IN)

Tracey Mann (KS)

Randy Feenstra (IA)

Mary Miller (IL)

Barry Moore (AL)

Kat Cammack (FL)

Brad Finstad (MN)

John Rose (TN)

Ronny Jackson (TX)

Marc Molinaro (NY)

Monica de la Cruz (TX)

Nick Langworthy (NY)

John Duarte (CA)

Zack Nunn (IA)

Mark Alford (MO)

Derrick Van Order (WI)

Lori Chavez-Deremer (OR)

Max Miller (OH)

Democrats:

Jim Costa (CA)

Jim McGovern (MA) – co sponsor

Alma Adams (NC) – co sponsor

Abigail Spanberger (VA) – co sponsor

Jahana Hayes (CT) – co sponsor

Shontel Brown (OH)

Sharice Davids (KS) – co sponsor

Elissa Slotkin (MI) – co sponsor

Yadira Caraveo (CO) – co sponsor

Andrea Salinas (OR)  – co sponsor

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA)  – co sponsor

Jill Tokuda (HI)  – co sponsor

Nikki Budzinski (IL) – co sponsor

Eric Sorensen (IL)  – co sponsor

Gabe Vasquez (NM)  – co sponsor

Jasmine Crockett (TX)  – co sponsor

Jonathan Jackson (IL)  – co sponsor

Greg Casar (TX) – co sponsor

Chellie Pingree (ME) – co sponsor

Salud Carbajal (CA)  – co sponsor

Angie Craig (MN)  – co sponsor

Darren Soto (FL) – co sponsor

Sanford Bishop (GA)  – co sponsor

For your Senators, you can see who is sponsoring the bill here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2037/cosponsors?s=2&r=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22S2037%22%7D

If your Senators (you have 2 of them) are not yet sponsoring the Senate version of the SAFE Act, bill S. 2037 SAFE Act of 2023, please call and write to them today as well!  I have a version of the letter packet for your Senators as well. Here is the script for calling your 2 US Senators: 

“I am calling today to ask Senator  ___________________ to immediately co sponsor bill S.2037 the SAFE Act of 2023, which is currently included as an amendment to the Farm Bill: ‘To amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption.’ This issue is very important to me, my family, and my fellow constituents in your district. Thank you, (your name)”

One of the reasons some legislators are not supporting the bill is because they wonder what will happen to all the horses currently being shipped to slaughter. Where will the horses go, who will take care of them? Passing the SAFE Act will force backyard breeders (including the Amish) to stop breeding horses and burros for the sole purpose of dropping them at auction pens to make a few dollars. Passing the SAFE Act will also eventually force the racing and other horse related industries to stop overbreeding. You can also mention that the shipping of American equines is a cruel and inhumane process resulting in pain and suffering for the horses, burros, and mules. In addition, horse meat is NOT safe for human or pet consumption. Equines are given all sorts of medications including wormers and yearly vaccinations that are not safe for humans or domestic pets to consume. 

I would like to thank AWE for their hard work on the SAFE Act and for putting together the documents I have in the packets for you to mail to your Rep and Senators. Legislation only gets passed when we make our voices heard – let’s do that now for our beloved American equines, both domestic and wild. It’s way past time for Congress to pass the SAFE Act!

American equines need our voices right now, please make yours heard!

Heather

Save Our Wild Horses

We have created an easy one click way for you to contact your legislators about the SAFE Act: https://secure.everyaction.com/WTCXLYwDtkKxX2cR_lZ3Vw2

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