There is an oft-repeated saying in Washington: “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” Thankfully, that’s not the only option. The American Horse Council (AHC) continues to rely on dependable advocates for the equine industry among members of Congress.

The AHC recently announced its bi-annual Congressional Scorecard, covering the second half of 2023. “The 118th Congress is facing many challenges,” said Julie Broadway, president of AHC. “The pace of legislating is slow, money is tight and it is an election year.

“A trifecta of troubles, yet we’re pleased to announce our Champions in the Congress who continue to advocate for the equine industry,” she continued. “It’s been a particularly tumultuous period, and our Congressional Scorecard is more important than ever to help our members sort through all the noise that has enveloped the political discourse.”

Supporters of the equine industry

The Congressional Scorecard identifies legislation that supports the U.S. equine industry. Bills are evaluated that draw consensus among the AHC’s diverse membership in areas such as animal welfare issues arising under the Horse Protection Act, labor flexibility, tax reform, public trails access, federal resources for equine-assisted services, USDA resources to promote equine programs and others that might emerge as the legislative process moves forward.

In addition to the legislation, points are awarded to members of the U.S. Congress who support the AHC through their membership in the Congressional Horse Caucus, who participate in AHC events, and who are accessible and responsive to AHC members and staff.

The methodology used identifies “priority legislation,” and assigns points based on a lawmaker’s degree of support for priority bills, among other factors. The point system then makes a smaller pool of “industry champions” emerge to inform members of the horse industry which incumbents should be recognized and acknowledged for their support.

The top five

The following are the top five ranking members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

SENATE

1. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia)
2. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)
3. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)
4. Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota)
5. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska-2)
2. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-California-19)
3. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Kentucky-6)
4. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania-9)
5. Rep. McGarvey Morgan (D-Kentucky-3)

Click here to view the Congressional Scorecard.

The scoring does not consider party affiliations. “The integrity of the scorecard is based on performance, not politics,” said Broadway. “We have a strong track record of working with both sides of the aisle. It’s the work product that matters, not the letter after their names.”

Relevant bills

Some of the bills from the first half of the 118th Congress include:

• H.R. 1582—Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2023 (PHIT Act of 2023) Sponsor: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)
• H.R. 3090—Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2023 (PAST Act of 2023) Sponsor: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)
• H.R. 1839—Combating Illicit Xylazine Act Sponsor: Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)
• H.R. 2927—Racehorse Tax Parity Act Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6)
• H.R. 2296—Racehorse Cost Recovery Act of 2023 Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6)
• H.R. 1250—Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1)
• H.R. 237—Recognizing the Importance of Stepped-Up Basis under Section 1014 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in preserving family-owned farms and small businesses Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Man (R-KS-1)
• S. 1108—Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023 Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
• S. 993—Combating Illicit Xylazine Act Sponsor: Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV)
• S. 4004—Prevent All Soring Tactics Act Sponsors: Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
• S. 873— America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (serves as an omnibus for related bills, additional co-sponsors will be added) Sponsor: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

For more information or to see the top 10, visit the AHC website.

About the American Horse Council

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.