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H.R. 3355 (117th): SAFE Act of 2021

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The text of the bill below is as of May 19, 2021 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

Summary of this bill

In the words of Broadway’s Alexander Hamilton: “Congress writes, ‘George, attack the British forces’ / I shoot back, ‘We have resorted to eating our horses.’”

Context

While horse meat has been considered culturally taboo throughout American history, dating back to the Pilgrims, it’s always remained legal. Indeed, horse meat has periodically risen in popularity in various eras, such as during the food shortages of World War I and World War II, and during the 1890s as the rise of automobiles ameliorated horses as a form of transportation.

The last U.S. slaughterhouse that produced horse meat for human consumption was closed in 2007, when Illinois enacted a law banning …

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3355

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 19, 2021

(for herself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act of 2021 or the SAFE Act of 2021.

2.

Prohibition on shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines for slaughter for human consumption

(a)

Definitions

Section 2 of the Horse Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1821) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (4) as paragraphs (2), and (5), respectively;

(2)

by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph:

(1)

The term human consumption means ingestion by people as a source of food.

; and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (3), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph:

(4)

The term slaughter means the killing of one or more horses or other equines with the intent to sell or trade the flesh of such horses or equines for human consumption.

.

(b)

Findings

Section 3 of the Horse Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1822) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (6) through (10), respectively;

(2)

by inserting before paragraph (6), as so redesignated, the following new paragraphs:

(1)

horses and other equines play a vital role in the collective experience of the United States and deserve protection and compassion;

(2)

horses and other equines are domestic animals that are used primarily for recreation, pleasure, work, and sport;

(3)

unlike cows, pigs, and many other animals, horses and other equines are not raised for the purpose of being slaughtered for human consumption;

(4)

individuals selling horses or other equines at auctions are seldom aware that the animals may be bought for the purpose of being slaughtered for human consumption;

; and

(3)

by striking paragraph (8), as so redesignated, and inserting the following new paragraph:

(8)

the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation in intrastate commerce of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, adversely affects and burdens interstate and foreign commerce;

.

(c)

Prohibition

Section 5 of the Horse Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1824) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (11) as paragraphs (9) through (12), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:

(8)

The shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation by a person of any horse or other equine that the person has reason to believe will be slaughtered for human consumption.

.