Here are excerpts from the American Horse Council’s guide, which is available by request from AHC:
Why candidates care
Anyone running for federal office, whether they are running for re-election or as a new candidate, has an obvious interest in the concern of those who they will be asking to vote for them. Federal candidates want, and need, the support of their constituents and an election year is when they come to you asking for your vote and support. Without that, they cannot be elected. So 2008 is a real opportunity for the horse community to get involved and make itself, individually and collectively, important to candidates.
Why is the horse community important?
• 4.6 million Americans are involved in the horse industry;
• The constituency group is broad; there are horses in every state;
• 25% of horse owners have incomes over $100,000 annually;
• Riding, whether for showing or recreation, is a healthy activity and the industry can use national concerns about health and exercise to its advantage;
• The horse industry has an economic impact of $102 billion on the U.S. economy and supports 1.4 million full-time jobs;
• Horse owners pay $1.9 billion in taxes each year;
• The industry attracts investments of nearly $25 billion in capital equipment and structures and stimulates more than $4.1 billion in taxes and land purchases each year;
• Breeding, raising and training horses is an activity that promotes the use and preservation of public lands and parks. It is a green buffer to urban sprawl in many states. Green space is an issue in all parts of the country.
Be able to explain your issues
Specific issues that affect the horse industry are raised in each Congress as bills are introduced. But there are several areas of general concern that are of overriding importance to all segments of the horse community, which involves racing, showing and recreation and different breed and disciplines. These include:
Taxes
Welfare and Safety
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Gaming Legislation
Access to Public Lands
Movement of Horses; Diseases
Know the candidates
Visit their websites; go to town hall meetings; consider endorsements by trusted officials, groups and organizations; watch the debates; read a wide array of news sources for a variety of viewpoints.
Start a relationship
Invite a candidate to your home, farm or business;
Invite a candidate to your organization’s meeting, show or event;
Include a candidate and their family on a trail ride;
Organize a “meet and greet” for candidates;
Take advantage of campaign events in your area to have a face-to-face conversation;
Write letters to let them know what issues are important to you.
Ask candidates to complete a questionnaire about issues important to the horse community;
Invite a candidate to write something for your organization’s newsletter or publication.
Fundraise
Volunteer
Register to Vote
Vote!
Follow-up after the election
Know the rules
While there are few restrictions on activities that individuals may engage in with respect to candidates running for federal office, there are limitations on what associations and corporations may do under the IRS Code and Federal Election Commission Act.
In an effort to better represent and serve the horse industry in Washington, DC, the American Horse Council and the Appaloosa Horse Club have organized a new grassroots effort entitled, “The Congressional Cavalry program.” ApHC members can participate and help to make a difference in federal legislation and regulations that affect the horse industry.
A new Congress will begin in January of 2009. If you care about the national issues that impact you and the horse community, now is the time to get involved.
All ApHC members, including owners, breeders, veterinarians, trainers, competitors, recreational riders, service providers, and others who wish to be involved in grassroots efforts in Washington are encouraged to join the Congressional Cavalry program. The purpose of the program is to enlist individuals from all segments of the horse industry and in every Congressional district who will agree to contact their Representative/Senator or federal official when asked.
Cavalry members will be mobilized when there is a need for grassroots contacts, such as letters and phone calls. Members of the program will be put on an email or fax list so they can be contacted and activated quickly. The AHC will provide participants with whatever information is necessary. Participants will be free to do as much as they feel comfortable doing.
If you want to sign up or have any additional questions about the Congressional Cavalry program, please contact the American Horse Council at 2.2-296-4031 or ahc@horsecouncil.org.
From the American Horse Council
WASHINGTON, DC November 7, 2007 –Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Preserving our Equine Heritage on Public Lands Act (S. 2238) on November 1st. This bill is similar to the so-called “Right-to-Ride” bill that was introduced in the last Congress by Senator Crapo.
“Senator Crapo has been a champion of preserving riders’ access to public lands,” said American Horse Council (AHC) President Jay Hickey. “He has retooled the bill he introduced in the last Congress and we appreciate his steadfastness in introducing the legislation again. Equestrians are going to have to let Congress know that they are concerned about access to trails and public lands and that they support this bill if we hope to get it passed.”
The bill directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to manage the federal lands under their jurisdiction “in a manner that preserves and facilitates the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals” on lands on which “there is a historical tradition” of use. The bill provides that such lands “shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle stock animals” where there is such a tradition. The bill applies to the management of the National Park System, BLM lands, National Wildlife Refuge System land, and National Forest System land.
The bill does not limit the federal agencies’ ultimate authority to restrict such use, provided the agencies perform the review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The bill would also impose additional specific and designated procedures to be followed by agencies before any land closures. These procedures include advance notice of any proposed reduction in use to allow public comment, convening a public meeting near the area involved, and collaboration with various users during the process.
Those who enjoy riding on public lands have been concerned about the reduction of trails and public lands available to horses and pack stock. This bill recognizes the importance of saddle and pack stock in the settling, exploration and recreation of our country by ensuring that the horse’s historic and traditional use is recognized as our public lands are managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service.
Hickey further stated, “The AHC thanks Senator Crapo for introducing this important bill. Horses are an immensely important part of American culture, history and heritage. This bill recognizes the strength of the horse industry and helps to preserve time-honored American traditions and values.”
For more information about the American Horse Council, please visit: www.horsecouncil.org or call 202-296-4031.
From: American Horse Council
Date: July 25, 2007
Timely Response is Needed
The House of Representative is scheduled to vote on the 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill (H.R. 3161), which would fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2008, early next week.
Section 738 of that bill would be devastating because it would cut-off funding for USDA activities important to the horse industry. It would eliminate funding necessary for USDA to operate quarantine facilities and to pay personnel to approve and facilitate the import and export of horses for exhibition, competition, sale or breeding. The bill would not only cut off direct funding to USDA, but also eliminate USDA’s authority to impose user fees, which support the operation of the three major USDA Animal Import Centers and the land border ports along the Canadian and Mexican borders.
We are asking AHC member organizations to contact Members of Congress from their state asking that this provision be removed.
NOTE: Although the language is an apparent attempt by proponents of legislation to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption by taking the USDA out of the process, as was done last year, the language in Section 738 would have a far broader impact and would affect the movement of all horses.
While an individual’s or organization’s position on limiting USDA’s authority to inspect horses for slaughter may be based on their position on the federal bill banning slaughter, the industry should be opposed to this overly-broad limit on USDA’s authority and economic ability to protect animal health through inspection, quarantine and oversight of the movement of all horses.
For more information, visit www.horsecouncil.org.
*According to tax status of ApHC, we are not in the business of lobbying, but individual members are free to express themselves and to communicate directly with their representatives.
From: American Horse Council
Last Thursday the House Appropriations Committee approved the funding bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2008. Included in the bill was language that is apparently intended to prevent USDA personnel from inspecting, certifying or approving horses intended for slaughter. This is an apparent attempt by Members of Congress opposed to the slaughter of horses for human consumption to stop this activity by taking the USDA out of the process, as was done last year.
Overly-Broad Language on Horses
Unfortunately, the language in Section 738 of the bill appears to have a far broader impact than it seems intended to have. It would affect horses not intended for slaughter too. Indeed, as written it could affect the entire horse industry because it would eliminate funding, effective January 1, 2008, for important USDA activities over and above inspecting horses for slaughter. It would eliminate USDA funding for import/export functions of all horses including health certificates, inspections and quarantines. The bill would cut off not only direct funding by the federal government, but also reimbursement by inspected parties, and cooperative agreements with the states, for any of these inspection activities. USDA would be prohibited from expending funds to maintain quarantine facilities and the personnel needed to operate them or to seize diseased or infected animals and materials.
The health and welfare of all horses and the horse industry is based to a large degree on the many safety nets that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has set up to protect the health and well-being of our domestic horse population, not only at the U.S. border, but also within the country. This provision would dramatically impact the authority and ability of the USDA to maintain those protections because it would deny funds for the various inspections required under current federal law for ALL HORSES.
An individual’s or organization’s position on limiting USDA’s authority to inspect slaughter horses may be based on their position on the federal bill banning slaughter. If you support a federal ban, you may support such a limitation. If you oppose a federal ban, you may oppose such a funding limit.
But regardless of your position on a federal ban, the industry should be opposed to any overly-broad limits on USDA’s authority and economic ability to inspect, quarantine and regulate the international and interstate movement of all horses. The industry needs these safeguards to protect the health of all horses, keep them moving and ensure their availability for breeding, racing, showing, and recreation.
Clarification Needed
Efforts will be made to clarify this language and its effect on all horses before the bill goes to the House floor, scheduled for July 30.
Please call with any questions.
Washington DC 20006 . 202-296-4031
Fax 202-296-1970
Email: AHC@horsecouncil.org
Web Address: www.horsecouncil.org
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