Bills End Horse Slaughter and Support Bicycle Safety Education
Marked Up by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan released the following statement after his legislative priorities—an amended version of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1661) and the Biking Instruction, Knowledge, and Education (BIKE) Act (H.R. 4699)—advanced to the House floor as part of the bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th (BUILD America 250) Act (H.R. 8870):
“I want to thank Chairman Graves for advancing my longstanding priorities as part of this bipartisan investment in America’s future. Protecting American horses from slaughter reflects our values as a nation, and I’m proud that a modified version of my SAFE Act will finally end this inhumane practice permanently. Thank you to Rep. Titus and Rep. Van Drew for fighting for this bill and ensuring its inclusion within the BUILD America 250 Act.
“I’m also pleased that my BIKE Act with Rep. Magaziner was included in the package, which will ensure that federal funding can be used to support bicycle education and safety programs. I look forward to passing the BUILD America 250 Act and sending it to President Trump’s desk to sign my key priorities into law.”
The amended version of the SAFE Act would ban the transportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption. The SAFE Act has garnered overwhelming bipartisan support, with 229 cosponsors in the House. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). Buchanan co-chairs the Animal Protection Caucus in Congress and is a leading advocate for protecting endangered species and ending animal cruelty.
The BIKE Act, which Buchanan introduced with Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), ensures that federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (HHTSA) grant funding can be used to support bicycle education and safety programs. The NHTSA Section 402 and Section 405 grant programs support state efforts to address transportation safety, including public education and awareness about traffic laws. Federal law and guidance currently restrict Section 402 and 405 funding from supporting cycling education.
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