Congressman Cohen Urges USDA to Enforce Horse Protections

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today joined Representatives Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05), Ted Yoho (R-FL-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) and Chris Collins (R-NY-27) in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him "to do everything possible to vigorously enforce the Horse Protection Act" as the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration begins in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

The letter reads in part:

"We encourage the USDA to ensure a strong and consistent enforcement presence at this year's Celebration, and to utilize the full range of both objective and subjective inspection protocols developed by the department." See the full text of the letter here.

The five letter signers were the lead sponsors of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 693, that passed the House last month by a vote of 333 to 96. The bill would stop the intentional injury to horses. See the release on the passage of the PAST Act here.

The 81st annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration began today and runs through August 31.