Animal Rights Activists Busy In Congress

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Livestock Marketing Association’s annual convention in Florida. 

I was tasked with tackling a meaty topic — explaining the threats of animal rights activists and showing attendees how these extremist groups will break into buildings or use drones to capture undercover footage for their next documentary. 

Ruthless in their pursuit to decay our private property rights in this country, these activists litigate, lobby, and legislate in order to attack farmers and ranchers. And they do this by preying on the emotions of well-intentioned citizens who love animals. 

These groups are currently very active trying to shape our next farm bill and pushing federal bills in Congress that would dramatically change our ability to own and manage our livestock in the future.

With the help of The Cavalry Group, an organization committed to protecting and defending animal enterprise, today I wanted to share some of these federal bills that we need to vocally oppose in the 118th Congress.

First up, is the Save American Forgotten Equines (S.A.F.E.) Act. This legislation prohibits the knowing sale or transport of horses for purposes of human consumption. This bill makes it unlawful to knowingly possess, ship, transport, purchase, sell, deliver, or receive a horse for it be slaughtered for human consumption. 

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has worked tirelessly to eliminate horse slaughter in the United States without providing any alternative solutions for horses. This has resulted in an unbelievable amount of suffering for old, lame, and unwanted horses. The S.A.F.E. Act would be devastating to the horse industry. It would close the borders for transport of horses to slaughter in Canada and Mexico and would ban horse slaughter across borders, as well.

The next federal bill I want to bring your attention to is the Prevent All Soring Tactics (P.A.S.T.) Act. This was written and sponsored by HSUS. If passed, the PAST Act would vastly expand the jurisdiction of federal inspectors and calls for oversight without funding. It does nothing to address the problem of unethical participants who are already in violation of existing laws. This amends the Horse Protection Act, which already imposes strong rules and regulations not he Tennessee Walking Horse Industry.  

The economic impact of the PAST Act would be detrimental to farriers, veterinarians, feed and tack companies, restaurants, motels, retail stores, truck and trailer dealers, and other businesses. It would remove all pads, weighted shoes, and all action devices from show horses of three specified breeds — Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse, and Spotted Saddle Horse. 

The bills keep coming. Check out the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act (ACE) Act, which would establish a new section of the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice to enforce federal laws concerning animal cruelty and establish and “Animal Cruelty Task Force” to weaponize the Department of Justice against American citizens.

Another one to keep an eye one is GOLDIE’s ACT, which is being pushed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The GOLDIES Act perpetuates the false narrative about USDA regulatory enforcement being “too lax.” And according to the Cavalry Group, “is completely driven by animal rights organizations to push USDA into Obama-era adversarial enforcement practices and was issued under the false premise that because USDA write-ups for non-compliance declined under the Trump administration, that USDA did not have strict enough enforcement.”

This is just the tip of the iceberg in the actions being taken by animal rights extremists. It’s important to note we already have existing laws in the books that protect the animals we love and raise. And although you may be thinking, these bills don’t impact me, it’s critical we realize that these are precedent-setting actions that will trickle down and expand outward to touch every citizen who owns and manages any type of animal in this country.

We are on the path to starvation if these activist groups succeed. Spread the word far and wide, and be sure to check in on your elected officials to see how they’ve voted or spoken about some of these proposed federal bills.