H.R. 1661 Introduced Agriculture and Food

SAFE Act of 2025

To amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] Introduced February 27, 2025 Cosponsors 238 (199 D, 39 R) Latest action March 28, 2025

Summary

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025
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 (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.
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.
As background, in recent years, the 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.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

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

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