The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Sept. 9 marked up and advanced a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) that would reform America’s horse racing industry.
“Today marks a major milestone in our bipartisan efforts to implement historic and lasting reforms for the horse racing industry,” Rep. Barr said.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2019, H.R. 1754, which Rep. Barr introduced last March with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), sailed through a committee markup after Rep. Tonko submitted a manager’s amendment that revised the bill to reflect industry consensus and mirror the identical bill, S. 4547, introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in his chamber.
“Our amended legislation incorporates feedback from an expanded group of industry stakeholders to create essential uniform medication and track safety standards to protect the safety of our equine and human athletes,” said Rep. Barr. “I want to thank my colleague Paul Tonko for his continued work and advocacy on this issue, as well as the over 250 members who cosponsored this legislation for their support.”
Rep. Tonko also commended Rep. Barr for his support on the bill and noted that the committee’s vote “was a major step forward for our bipartisan efforts to bring greater safety and integrity to the noble sport of horse racing.”
Rep. Barr and Sen. McConnell on Aug. 31 announced that consensus had been reached among equine industry stakeholders that builds on the prior version of the measure and would recognize the newly formed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which will be tasked with creating uniform, national standards regarding prohibited and permitted substances for use in horse racing, among other provisions.
H.R. 1754 now heads to the full U.S. House of Representatives for action.
“The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act has momentum in the House, and I look forward to getting it across the finish line and sending it to the president’s desk,” Rep. Barr said.