[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 164 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE HORSE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ACT OF 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2017

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Horse Transportation 
Safety Act, a bill I introduced earlier today along with my esteemed 
colleague, Rep. Jones from North Carolina, to ensure the humane and 
safe transportation of horses.
  The Horse Transportation Safety Act seeks to end the exploitation of 
a regulatory loophole designed to ban the transport of horses in 
double-deck trailers, whereby drivers have an incentive to inhumanely 
transport horses to assembly points, then reload them into single level 
trailers just outside their final destination.
  The practice is dangerous and inhumane not only to the horses, it 
poses a threat to the travelling public.
  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ``double-deck 
trailers do not provide adequate headroom for equines, with the 
possible exception of foals and yearlings. We do not believe that 
trailers that have two or more permanent levels that are not 
collapsible can be adequately altered to accommodate adult equines, 
especially tall equines.''
  The legislation is strongly supported by agricultural interests and 
animal protection groups alike. Among the organizations endorsing the 
bill are the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare 
Institute, the National Black Farmers Association, and Return to 
Freedom Wild Horse Conservation.
  Moreover, in 2010 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
unanimously adopted this bipartisan legislation.
  This is common sense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support 
the swift passage of the Horse Transportation Safety Act.

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