The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building, entitled “H.R. 1518, a bill to amend the Horse Protection Act.”  Witnesses will be announced and are by invitation only.  The hearing webcast will be available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/.

H.R. 1518 was introduced in Congress by Ed Whitfield (R. Ky) and Steve Cohen (D. Tn).  Whitfield's wife, Connie Harriman-Whitfield is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Humane Society Legislative Fund, an arm of the Humane Society of the United States.  The legislation is an HSUS sponsored piece of legislation that would cripple the show horse industry in the Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse industries.

The legislation calls for an elimination of the Horse Industry Organization (HIO) system and will turn complete enforcement responsibility of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) over to the USDA.  The legislation also calls for a ban of all action devices, pads and weighted shoes in the Tennessee Walking Horse, Racking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse breeds.  In addition the legislation calls for strengthening of penalties for violations of the HPA.

The legislation will eliminate approximately 85% of the divisions that Tennessee Walking Horses compete in today.  If you are one of the owners, trainers, breeders, exhibitors or fans of the Tennessee Walking Horse, the time is now for you to act on behalf of the industry.

In addition to contacting your representatives in Congress, you should contact the members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade and inform them of the devastating impacts of H.R. 1518 to the Walking Horse industry, the economies in the affected areas and the jobs it will cost our industry.  This legislation and corresponding threat to the industry should be taken serious and dealt with appropriately.

Members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade are:
Chariman    Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE-2nd) ** 2331 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-4155; 226-5452 Omaha: (402) 397-9944 @LEETERRYNE
   
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9th) 1210 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-1947; (fax)225-4060 Pleasanton: (925) 737-0727; @RepMcNerney

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA-33rd) 2204 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-3976; (fax)225-4099 Los Angeles: (323) 651-1040;@WaxmanClimate

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12th) 2313 Rayburn House Office Building 202-225-5755 , (fax)202-225-4085
Tarpon Springs:727-940-5860; @RepGusBilirakis    personal contact…   [email protected]

Rep. John Barrow (D-GA12th) 2202 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-2823; (fax) 225-3377 Augusta: (706) 722-4494; @repjohnbarrow

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL-1st) 2268 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-4372;(fax) 226-0333 Chicago: (773) 224-6500; @RepBobbyRush

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9th) 2367 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-2111; 226-6890 Chicago: (773) 506-7100 ; @janschakowsky

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16th) 1221 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-3635; 225-3521 Joliet: (815) 726-4998; @RepKinzinger

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS-4th) 107 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-6216; 225-3489 Wichita: (316) 262-8992; @repmikepompeo

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2nd) 308 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-3501; 226-2019 Bowling Green: (270) 842-9896; @RepGuthrie
 
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD-3rd) 2444 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-4016; 225-9219 Towson: (410) 832-8890; @RepJohnSarbanes

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI-12th) 2328 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-4071; 226-0371 Dearborn: (313) 278-2936 @john_dingell;

Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI-6th) 2183 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-3761; 225-4986 Kalamazoo: (616) 385-0039; @RepFredUpton

Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS-3rd) 307 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-5031; 225-5797 Pearl: (601) 932-2410; @GreggHarper

Rep. Billy Long (R-MO-7th) 1541 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-6536; 225-5604 Springfield: (417) 889-1800; @USRepLong

Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ-7th) 426 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-5361; 225-9460 Westfield: (908) 518-7733; @RepLanceNJ7

Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-1st) 2305 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-3101; 225-3354 Weldon: (252) 538-4123 @gkbutterfield;

Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH-6th) 317 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-5705; 225-5907 Marietta: (740) 376-0868;  @repbilljohnson

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7th) 217 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-2811; 225-3004 Memphis: (901) 382-5811; @MarshaBlackburn

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX-6th) 2109 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-2002; 225-3052 Arlington: (817) 543-1000 @RepJoeBarton;

Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX-22nd) 312 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-5951; 225-5241 Sugar Land: (281) 494-2690; @OlsonPressShop

Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT-4th) 2434 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-3011; 225-5638 South Salt Lake: (801) 486-1236; @RepJimMatheson

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) 1404 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-4115; 225-6790 Burlington: (888) 605-7270; @PeterWelch

Del. Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) 1510 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-1790; 225-5517 St. Thomas: (340) 774-4408 @DelegateDonna;

Rep. David McKinley (R-WV-1st) 313 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-4172; 225-7564 Wheeling: (304) 232-3801; @RepMcKinley