The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act was reintroduced in the House of Representatives this week. The lead sponsors are Rep. Steve Cohen (TN), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Vern Buchanan (FL) and Jan Schakowsky (IL). The legislation will once again face fierce opposition from the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and representatives in those states that have Tennessee Walking Show Horses.

The PAST Act has been a staple of the Humane Society of the United States legislative agenda for over a decade and the bill continues to fail to pass. The PAST Act is inadequate, doesn’t include a change to the inspection process which has been criticized in a recent USDA study as ineffective and not utilizing current technologies and also prohibits equipment on Tennessee Walking Horses that is allowed in every other show breed.

In addition to the introduction of the PAST Act, the industry faces the rulemaking from the USDA as well. A district court judge will rule in the near future on what the USDA must do with the old 2017 rule that would put in the PAST Act through rulemaking. If the judge allows the USDA to not implement the old rule, USDA has a new rule pending at OMB that would be pushed forward. The industry has retained counsel to assist during the comment phase of that new rulemaking.

All industry participants, especially those in North Carolina should contact their representatives in the House and Senate and explain how devastating the PAST Act is and not to sign on as a co-sponsor.