Skip to main content

Representatives Cohen, Fitzpatrick, Schakowsky and Buchanan Introduce PAST Act

October 1, 2021

Measure would end unnecessary suffering inflicted on horses

WASHINGTON – Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Vern Buchanan (FL-16) today introduced the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, to prohibit the intentional injury to the hooves and legs of performance walking horses such as Tennessee's iconic walking horses.

The measure was co-sponsored by 209 other House members, indicating its strong level of bipartisan support.

Congressman Cohen, a longtime member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, released the following statement:

"The practice of soring, which is the intentional infliction of pain on horses' feet and legs using caustic chemicals, chains, weighted shoes, hard objects, cutting, and other gruesome techniques to force them to perform a pain-based artificially high-stepping gait known as the ‘Big Lick,' is completely unacceptable, inhumane and unsportsmanlike. Unfortunately, the practice has marred the Tennessee Walking Horse and related breeds for more than six decades. I am proud to reintroduce the PAST Act to finally eradicate this indefensible practice and show that Americans will treat animals humanely."

Congressman Fitzpatrick said:

"The antiquated and inhumane practice of soring intentionally inflicts pain on show horses for the mere purpose of winning a ribbon at a competition. Our bipartisan PAST Act gives voice to these suffering animals and will finally put an end to this cruel practice by banning devices integral to soring, strengthening penalties, and holding abusers accountable for their crimes against innocent horses."

Congresswoman Schakowsky said:

"The horrific practice of horse soring needs to end. I am proud to stand alongside so many constituents, animal welfare groups, and a bipartisan group of my colleagues on Capitol Hill to demand that enough is enough, and ensure that we close the book on this inhumane treatment once and for all."

Congressman Buchanan said:

"The practice of horse ‘soring' is nothing less than animal torture. As the co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I am pleased to back this legislation to end this inhumane practice. Anyone who abuses horses in this manner should be held accountable."

The American Horse Council, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, Humane Society Legislative Fund, Humane Society of the United States, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Welfare Institute, Friends of Sound Horses, and Animal Wellness Action all strongly support this bill. They are joined by a broad set of hundreds of stakeholder groups and individuals that also endorse the PAST Act.

The full list of House cosponsors includes: Representatives Kurt Schrader, A. Donald McEachin, Abigail Spanberger, Adam Kinzinger, Adam Smith, Adriano Espaillat, Al Green, Al Lawson, Alan Lowenthal, Albio Sires, Alma S. Adams, Ann Kirkpatrick, Ann McLane Kuster, André Carson, Andy Kim, Andy Levin, Angie Craig, Anna Eshoo, Anthony G. Brown, Antonio Delgado, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Bill Foster, Bill Johnson, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Bill Posey, Bobby L. Rush, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Brad Sherman, Bradley S. Schneider, Brendan F. Boyle, Brian Higgins, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Carlos Giménez, Carolyn B. Maloney, Chellie Pingree, Cheri Bustos, Chris Pappas, Chrissy Houlahan, Claudia Tenney, Colin Allred, Conor Lamb, Cynthia Axne, Dan Kildee, Dan Meuser, Danny K. Davis, Darren Soto, David N. Cicilline, David Joyce, David B. McKinley, P.E., David Price, David Schweikert, David Scott, David Trone, Debbie Dingell, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Deborah Ross, Derek Kilmer, Diana DeGette, Dina Titus, Don Bacon, Don Beyer, Donald Norcross, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Doris Matsui, Dwight Evans, Earl Blumenauer, Ed Case, Ed Perlmutter, Elaine G. Luria, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Elissa Slotkin, Emanuel Cleaver, Eric Swalwell, Fred Keller, Fred Upton, G.K. Butterfield, Gerald E. Connolly, Grace F. Napolitano, Grace Meng, Greg Stanton, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Gregory W. Meeks, Guy Reschenthaler, Gwen Moore, Haley Stevens, Hank Johnson, Jackie Speier, Jackie Walorski, Jahana Hayes, Jaime Herrera Beutler, James A. Himes, James R. Langevin, James P. McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Jared Huffman, Jason Crow, Jeff Fortenberry, Jeff Van Drew, Jennifer Wexton, Jerrold Nadler, Jerry McNerney, Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia, Jimmy Panetta, Joaquin Castro, Joe Courtney, Joe Neguse, John Garamendi, John Katko, John B. Larson, John P. Sarbanes, John Yarmuth, Joseph D. Morelle, Josh Gotheimer, Josh Harder, Joyce Beatty, Juan Vargas, Judy Chu, Julia Brownley, Karen Bass, Katherine Clark, Kathleen M. Rice, Kathy Castor, Katie Porter, Kay Granger, Ken Buck, Ken Calvert, Kurt Schrader, Lauren Underwood, Linda T. Sánchez, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Lizzie Fletcher, Lois Frankel, Lori Trahan, Lou Correa, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Lucy McBath, Madeleine Dean, Marc Veasey, Marcy Kaptur, María Elvira Salazar, Marie Newman, Marilyn Strickland, Mark Amodei, Mark DeSaulnier, Mark Pocan, Mark Takano, Mary Gay Scanlon, Matt Cartwright, Michael Waltz, Mike Doyle, Mike Kelly, Mike Quigley, Mike Thompson, Mikie Sherrill, Mondaire Jones, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Nicole Malliotakis, Norma J. Torres, Nydia M. Velazquez, Patrick McHenry, Paul D. Tonko, Pete Aguilar, Peter A. DeFazio, Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rashida Tlaib, Raúl M. Grijalva, Raul Ruiz, Rick Larsen, Richard Hudson, Richard E. Neal, Ro Khanna, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Robin L. Kelly, Roger Williams, Ron Kind, Rosa L. DeLauro, Ruben Gallego, Salud Carbajal, Sara Jacobs, Sean Casten, Scott H. Peters, Sean Patrick Maloney, Seth Moulton, Sharice L. Davids, Sheila Jackson Lee, Stephanie Murphy, Stephen F. Lynch, Steven Horsford, Susan Wild, Suzan K. DelBene, Suzanne Bonamici, Ted Deutch, Ted W. Lieu, Tedd Budd, Tim Ryan, Tom Malinowski, Tom O'Halleran, Tom Reed, Tony Cárdenas, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Val Demings, Veronica Escobar, William R. Keating, Yvette D. Clarke and Zoe Lofgren.

###