Latest Action · Mar 28, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Bill Progress
hmm an angle that doesn't upset the advocates?
Why it matters
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The big picture: HR1661, the "Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025," would close the remaining loophole that lets U.S. horses end up on dinner plates overseas. The bill bans slaughter of equines for human consumption outright, turning what’s long been a de facto restriction in annual spending bills into permanent law.
Advocates see this as the culmination of a decades-long effort to stop horses from being shipped to slaughter plants in Mexico and Canada. A broad coalition of equine groups has pressed the new Congress to pass a version of SAFE, arguing that horses occupy a unique cultural space somewhere between livestock and companion animal. The bill’s massive bipartisan roster — stretching from liberal firebrands to hardline conservatives — reflects how politically safe it has become to oppose horse slaughter, even in rural districts.
Zoom in: The text is narrow on purpose. It amends the 2018 farm bill framework to bar slaughter of "equines for human consumption" — not for other uses, and not broader livestock practices — giving nervous farm-state lawmakers something to point to if they’re pressed on regulatory creep. Lead sponsor Vern Buchanan has framed the measure as part of a wider push on animal welfare, tying it to his long-standing opposition to horse slaughter as an industry practice.
What This Bill Does
Adds horses and other equines to the existing slaughter ban for human food
The bill changes an existing law that already bans killing dogs and cats for people to eat, and it adds equines (like horses, donkeys, and mules) to that same ban. In practice, it means you can’t legally slaughter these animals in the U.S. if the goal is to sell or serve their meat to humans.
Updates the law’s title to include equines
Where the original section heading only mentioned dogs and cats, the bill changes it so it now says dogs, cats, and equines. This makes it clear, even just from the title of that section, that horses and similar animals are covered by the same protections.
Uses existing enforcement structure for dog and cat slaughter bans
Instead of creating a totally new system, the bill simply plugs equines into the rules that already apply to dogs and cats under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. That means whatever penalties and enforcement tools already exist for dog and cat slaughter for human food now also apply to equines.
Gives the ban a short, public‑facing name
The bill can be cited as the “Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act of 2025” or the “SAFE Act of 2025.” This is basically branding so people, lawmakers, and agencies have an easy label for this specific change to the law.
Who Benefits
Horses and other equines in the United States
They gain legal protection from being slaughtered for human food under the same rules that protect dogs and cats. This reduces the risk that they are killed and processed specifically to be eaten by people.
Animal welfare and rescue organizations focused on equines
These groups get a clearer legal backing when they argue against horse slaughter for human consumption. It strengthens their position when working with law enforcement or policymakers to stop such practices.
People who oppose eating horse meat on ethical grounds
They get a federal law that matches their view that horses should be treated more like companion animals than food animals. It makes it easier for them to point to a national standard instead of relying on a patchwork of policies.
Who's Affected
Businesses that slaughter animals for meat in the U.S.
Any slaughterhouse or meat processor must not kill equines if the meat is meant for people to eat. They would need to avoid adding equine slaughter for human food to their operations, or stop doing it if they were planning to or attempting to operate in that space.
Companies or individuals who might sell or trade horse meat for human consumption
They are barred from using U.S.-based slaughter of equines as a source for human food. Their business plans and supply chains must avoid equine slaughter intended for people to eat within the U.S. legal system covered by this law.
Federal agencies that enforce animal slaughter laws
Agencies responsible for enforcing the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 now have to treat equines the same way they treat dogs and cats when it comes to slaughter for human consumption. That means updating guidance, inspections, and enforcement actions to include equines.
Cosponsors (210)
Janice Schakowsky
Democrat · IL
Troy Nehls
Republican · TX
Donald Beyer
Democrat · VA
Juan Ciscomani
Republican · AZ
Emanuel Cleaver
Democrat · MO
Claudia Tenney
Republican · NY
Henry Johnson
Democrat · GA
Young Kim
Republican · CA
Bill Foster
Democrat · IL
W. Steube
Republican · FL
Lucy McBath
Democrat · GA
Christopher Smith
Republican · NJ
Recent Actions
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
What Changes in the Law
2 key amendments · 2 total changes
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Section 12515 (7 U.S.C. 2160) – section heading
DOGS AND CATSDOGS, CATS, AND EQUINESWhat this means: The title of this section is expanded so that it clearly covers equines (such as horses) in addition to dogs and cats.
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Section 12515(a) (7 U.S.C. 2160) – operative prohibition
a dog or cata dog, cat, or equineWhat this means: The existing federal prohibition, which currently applies to slaughter of dogs or cats for human consumption, is broadened to also prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption.
Committees (1)
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Full Bill Text
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