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Upton Champions Anti Horse Cruelty Bill with Majority of Michigan Delegation, Amash & Bergman Vote to Keep Cruelty Alive

U.S. Senator Gary Peters

U.S. Senator Gary Peters

Rep. Fred Upton

Rep. Fred Upton

Example of a 'Big Lick' stacked shoe XRay

Example of a 'Big Lick' stacked shoe and ankle chains

Priscilla Presley and Animal Wellness Action Executive Director Marty Irby Lobbying for the PAST Act on Capitol Hill in January of 2019

I hope to see the Senate pass this legislation so we can get it to the President’s desk for his signature.”
— - Rep. Fred Upton, former Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee
LANSING , MICHIGAN, USA, August 9, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 693, by a vote of 333 to 96. U.S. Reps. Justin Amash, and Jack Bergman sided with animal abusers voting against the measure while bipartisan U.S. Reps. Fred Upton, Bill Huizenga, John Moolenaar, Dan Kildee, Tim Walberg, Elissa Slotkin, Andy Levin, Paul Mitchell, Haley Stevens, Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib, and Brenda Lawrence all voted in support of the bill. All of the Members who voted for the measure were also cosponsors of the bill except for Huizenga, and Moolenaar.

The PAST Act seeks to strengthen the Horse Protection Act and end the torturous, painful practice of soring Tennessee Walking, Racking, and Spotted Saddle Horses. Soring, the intentional infliction of pain to horses' front limbs by applying caustic chemicals such as mustard oil or kerosene or inserting sharp objects into the horses' hooves to create an exaggerated gait known as the "Big Lick,” has plagued the equine world for six decades.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters is a longtime cosponsor of the Senate companion bill, S. 1007, that mirrors the House passed legislation, but U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has yet to cosponsor the measure.

The PAST Act seeks to strengthen the Horse Protection Act and end the torturous, painful practice of soring Tennessee Walking, Racking, and Spotted Saddle Horses. Soring, the intentional infliction of pain to horses’ front limbs by applying caustic chemicals such as mustard oil or kerosene or inserting sharp objects into the horses’ hooves to create an exaggerated gait known as the “Big Lick,” has plagued the equine world for six decades.

“Horse soring is a cruel and sad practice that must come to an end,” said Rep. Fred Upton, (R-MI-06), former Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. “I’m pleased to be a cosponsor of H.R. 693 and to see it pass. This bipartisan legislation will prevent these beautiful animals from being mistreated by the walking horse industry and provide protection from future soring practices. I hope to see the Senate pass this legislation so we can get it to the President’s desk for his signature.”

“We applaud Rep.Fred Upton and Senator Gary Peters for their longtime leadership on this issue, and the rest of the Michigan delegation that support the bill for their key role in overwhelmingly passing the PAST Act to end this barbaric practice that has marred the horse world for decades,” said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action and past president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association. “We are disappointed that Reps. Justin Amash, and Jack Bergman chose to side with abusers and vote against the PAST Act , but the landslide vote in support of the bill is a powerful signal to the Senate that it should saddle up and end this cruelty to horses once and for all.”

“Once soring ends, and the “big lick” pain-based gait is eradicated, the Tennessee Walking Horse will thrive and grow like never before, and can be proudly exhibited around the globe,” said Animal Wellness advocate Priscilla Presley. “I want to see the breed flourish and believe Elvis would want to see that as well. The Tennessee Walking Horse, in its sound and natural form is the most versatile, and greatest breed of horse on earth.”

“The bottom line is you are either for animal cruelty, or you are against it,” said U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL-03), lead Republican sponsor of the PAST Act, and co-chair of the Congressional Veterinary Medicine Caucus.

The PAST Act would ban the use of painful large stacked shoes and ankle chains and would also eliminate the existing system of self-regulation by the industry and toughen penalties for violators of the Horse Protection Act. It’s supported by Animal Wellness Action, the American Horse Council, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, United States Equestrian Federation, National Sheriff’s Association, and Michigan Veterinary Medical Association.

The PAST Act has been blocked for years by a handful of well-placed lawmakers, but a new House rule triggering consideration of any measure that attracts 290 or more cosponsors brought the issue to the floor. PAST attracted 308 cosponsors, and was led by U.S. Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Ted Yoho (R-FL), cochairs of the Congressional Veterinary Medicine Caucus, along with Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Ron Estes (R-KS), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Chris Collins (R-NY). The Senate companion is led by U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Mark Warner (D-VA) has garnered 43 cosponsors.

See what Members of Congress from across the nation have to say about the PAST Act by clicking here.

The Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiver. We are advocates for getting veterinarians to the front lines of the animal welfare movement; promoting responsible pet ownership; and vaccinating animals against infectious diseases such as distemper. We also support policies that prevent animal cruelty and that alleviate suffering. We believe helping animals helps us all.

Animal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that’s why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don’t. We believe helping animals helps us all.

Marty Irby
ANIMAL WELLNESS ACTION
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Damage to 'Big Lick' horse from alleged pressure shoeing soring incident