On Thursday, July 25, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve the Sen. Joseph Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act of 2019 (H.R. 693) by a vote of 333 to 96. Even though lawmakers have introduced the PAST Act four times since 2013, today marks the first time the House has voted on the bill, which has always received broad, bi-partisan support. Today's historic vote constitutes one of the most significant legislative wins for equine welfare since passage of the Horse Protection Act in the 1970s.

Since being introduced in January, the PAST Act has gained more than 300 co-sponsors. Under new House rules, any legislation gaining 290 or more co-sponsors moves to a "consensus calendar," enhancing prospects for a vote on the floor. Thanks to continued advocacy from the horse industry, the PAST Act surpassed the 290-cosponsor threshold in June and gained a spot on the House consensus calendar. This spring, members of the American Horse Council (AHC) sent more than 270 letters to federal lawmakers urging support for the bill and resulting in today's passage.

H.R. 693 will strengthen the Horse Protection Act and finally end the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, and Racking Horses. AHC, along with most major national horse show organizations and state and local organizations, supports the PAST Act. Now that House lawmakers have done their part, AHC will focus its efforts on promoting the bill in the senate. For more information on the PAST Act, please contact AHC's Bryan Brendle at 202-296-4031.