Throughout history, horses have worked alongside us as companions and partners in work, war and sport; they are living symbols of our nation's spirit.

We have the honor and duty to protect them, which is why I am imploring my colleagues in the horse racing industry to contact their federal representatives in Congress and urge them to cosponsor the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 113/S.1706) and maintain the ban on funding horse slaughter in the United States.

This key federal bill will prevent horse slaughter plants from opening in the U.S. and end the export of horses abroad for slaughter.

Our equine athletes are the lifeblood of our industry, yet too often they are condemned to a horrible death in a slaughter plant. The disreputable, predatory slaughter industry gathers up our loyal and trusting companions only to turn them into meat exports for profit.

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