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House Committee Advances Measure Targeting America’s Horse Slaughter Pipeline

Lost Horses campaign applauds committee action on advancing equine protections

Washington, DC — May 22, 2026 — Today, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Van Drew-Titus Amendment to the Build America 250 Act, incorporating key SAFE Act provisions that would prohibit the transport of equines intended for slaughter for human consumption.

If enacted, the measure would effectively end the legal pipeline responsible for shipping tens of thousands of American horses across U.S. borders each year for slaughter.

The amendment, led by Representatives Van Drew (R), Titus (D), Burchett (R), Norton (D), and Patronis (R) with support from members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, reflects growing bipartisan momentum behind the SAFE Act and mounting national attention on America’s horse slaughter pipeline.

The Lost Horses campaign led by Wild Beauty Foundation founder, Ashley Avis, and its coalition partners, Members of Congress and advocates released the following statements applauding the measure:

“For decades, this shadowed system has operated largely out of public view, even as tens of thousands of American horses continue to be shipped across our borders every year,” said Ashley Avis, filmmaker and founder of the Wild Beauty Foundation and the Lost Horses campaign. “Today represents a major step forward, and I am deeply grateful to Representatives Buchanan and Titus for their leadership, and to the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who helped move this effort forward.

I am pleased to share this moment alongside tireless advocates including Animal Welfare Institute, ASPCA, EQUUS Foundation, industry leaders, and lawmakers. Further, the Lost Horses campaign is deeply grateful to the horse racing industry led by organizations including 1/ST, The Jockey Club, and the broader equine community for stepping up in unprecedented ways. Together we are building real momentum toward lasting federal protections for America’s horses.”

“Protecting American horses from slaughter reflects our values as a nation, and I’m proud that my SAFE Act will finally end this inhumane practice permanently,” stated Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16). “The SAFE Act moving through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today is an enormous victory, and I’m grateful for the support of advocates across the country who have helped make this a reality. But we’re not done yet—I will keep pushing forward to get the SAFE Act signed into law.”

“As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am proud to have helped secure the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act in the Build America 250 Act,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01). “This legislation would end the inhumane practice of horse slaughter for human consumption. These creatures are beloved pets, working partners, and military heroes; they deserve protection, dignity, and compassion.”

“Protecting these horses requires industries, advocates, and lawmakers willing to confront difficult issues directly,” said Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST. “This action by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marks meaningful progress toward lasting protections for America's horses, and 1/ST is proud to stand alongside the Lost Horses campaign, bipartisan lawmakers, and the broader racing and equine community to help drive that change forward.”

“As a longtime and active supporter of the SAFE Act, The Jockey Club is encouraged to see an amendment to the House Transportation bill that now includes the provisions provisions making it illegal under federal law to transport horses for slaughter,” said Jim Gagliano, President of The Jockey Club. “We join with the many other supporters of the SAFE Act in urging Congress to now pass this important act that will protect Thoroughbreds in the United States.”

“Not only is horse slaughter cruel and unnecessary, but the existence of the slaughter pipeline itself stifles rescue and rehoming efforts, putting equine welfare at risk,” said Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the ASPCA. “Equine industry and animal welfare groups are working daily to solve equine welfare issues on the ground, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open. The passage of the Van Drew-Titus Amendment brings us one step closer to a permanent ban on horse slaughter, and we urge Congress to ensure the final transportation bill retains this critical language to protect American horses and end this cruelty once and for all.”

“Americans cherish horses; no one wants to see these majestic and loyal companions meet a brutal end. And yet, each year, tens of thousands of American horses—from ex-racehorses to lesson ponies—are trucked across our borders to be butchered for meat,” said Dr. Joanna Grossman, equine program director for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Including language that would prohibit the transport of horses to slaughter in the surface transportation package could finally end this gruesome and unnecessary practice once and for all. We urge Congress to bring this widely supported measure to the finish line.”

“The EQUUS Foundation is proud to support the Wild Beauty Foundation and The Lost Horses campaign - a cinematic PSA campaign and national call to action to end the inhumane practice of slaughtering American horses for human consumption and for the passage of federal protections for America’s horses, including the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act,” said Lynn Coakley, President of the EQUUS Foundation. “The passage of federal protections is an essential first step for lasting change, which also requires the ongoing support of equine charities that are doing the hard work every day of providing rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming, sanctuary, and equine-assisted services that protect horses and create pathways to safe and meaningful futures. This work is at the heart of the EQUUS Foundation mission. By investing in these organizations and the horses they serve, together we can create sustainable solutions to keep America’s horses safe.”

“It is an honor to stand with the Lost Horses campaign and every individual and organization fighting alongside us to end the slaughter pipeline once and for all. The inclusion of the SAFE Act in the House transportation bill is a huge step forward. With stronger laws, real enforcement, responsible ownership, and support for rescue efforts, we can rewrite the story for thousands of horses at risk right now and put an end to this horrific practice. And we can do that together,” said Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, Amazing Horsewoman, LLC.

“The issue of equine welfare has never been more important to the fundamental viability of the thoroughbred industry. While we've made great strides in equine health and safety in recent years, especially with the passage and implementation of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act, ending the brutal practice of transporting American horses for unregulated slaughter in Mexico and Canada through passage of the SAFE Act is the next big missing piece in the puzzle. The Wild Beauty Foundation, through their Lost Horses campaign, has done a great job of uniting and galvanizing the broad support for the SAFE Act not just throughout the thoroughbred industry, but throughout the broader American horse industry. Now is the time to pass this critically important legislation,” said Joe De Francis, Board of Directors, Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

The Lost Horses campaign has helped elevate national awareness around the issue through film, journalism, and partnerships with artists, athletes, veterans, equestrians, and policymakers and will continue to advance the national conversation to protect American equines.

Background:

·        The SAFE Act, authored by Rep. Vern Buchanan, would permanently prohibit both domestic horse slaughter and the export of American horses for slaughter for human consumption abroad.

·        Current federal policy relies on annual appropriations language rather than permanent federal law.

·        The SAFE Act has attracted broad bipartisan support in Congress, nearing 230 cosponsors in the House.

·        The SAFE Act is endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Jockey Club, Animal Welfare Institute, EQUUS Foundation, Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States) and The Cloud Foundation.

About The Lost Horses Campaign: The Lost Horses campaign is a national awareness campaign by The Wild Beauty Foundation fusing cinema with advocacy to address the largely hidden export-driven slaughter pipeline impacting American horses.

Each year, tens of thousands of horses, including former racehorses, sport horses, working horses, wild horses, and donkeys, are shipped across U.S. borders to meet foreign demand for horse meat. Through the power of film and journalism, the campaign is raising unprecedented awareness and working to secure meaningful federal protections. No horse deserves to be lost.

About the Wild Beauty Foundation (WBF): The Wild Beauty Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild and domestic horses through powerful storytelling, youth engagement, and on-the-ground advocacy. Founded by filmmaker Ashley Avis, WBF uses film, public education, and creative campaigns to illuminate the plight of equines in the United States—from wild horses threatened by government roundups to domestic horses at risk in the slaughter pipeline. Through its national initiatives, WBF works to inspire compassion, elevate public awareness, and advance lasting solutions that ensure horses of every kind are treated with dignity and protected for generations to come.