SAFE Act of 2025
SAFE Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# SAFE Act of 2025 Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** The SAFE Act would permanently ban the slaughter of horses, mules, and other equines for human consumption in the United States. Currently, federal law prohibits slaughtering dogs and cats for food, but allows horse slaughter. This bill would extend that same protection to equines. Anyone who slaughters these animals for food, or ships, sells, purchases, or donates them for slaughter would face financial penalties.
The ban would apply to interstate and international commerce, though it includes an exception for equine slaughter used in Native American religious ceremonies. **Who It Affects:** The bill would primarily affect the equine slaughter industry and anyone involved in transporting or selling horses and mules for food purposes. It could also impact horse owners, animal welfare advocates, and ranchers. The USDA would no longer need to fund inspections of equine slaughter facilities (something Congress has been restricting through annual budget measures). **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the House by Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House. The bill has bipartisan support on similar legislation in past congressional sessions, though this particular version's prospects are not yet determined.
CRS Official Summary
Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.)Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.The bill subjects a violator to a fine.The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony.As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.