South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014
H. 4833
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Clemmons, Limehouse, Southard and Hixon
Document Path: l:\council\bills\dka\3155cm14.docx
Introduced in the House on March 4, 2014
Introduced in the Senate on March 19, 2014
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Summary: Congress
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
3/4/2014 House Introduced (House Journal ‑ page 75)
3/4/2014 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions (House Journal ‑ page 75)
3/6/2014 House Committee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial Resolutions (House Journal ‑ page 20)
3/7/2014 Scrivener's error corrected
3/19/2014 House Adopted, sent to Senate (House Journal ‑ page 21)
3/19/2014 Senate Introduced (Senate Journal ‑ page 8)
3/19/2014 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate Journal ‑ page 8)
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
3/4/2014
3/6/2014
3/7/2014
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 6, 2014
H. 4833
Introduced by Reps. Clemmons, Limehouse, Southard and Hixon
S. Printed 3/6/14--H. [SEC 3/7/14 2:20 PM]
Read the first time March 4, 2014.
THE COMMITTEE ON
INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4833) to memorialize the Congress of the United States to defeat H.R. 1518 and S. 1406 which would enact excessive guidelines relating to the practice of soring, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
LISTON D. BARFIELD for Committee.
[4833-1]
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO DEFEAT H.R. 1518 AND S. 1406 WHICH WOULD ENACT EXCESSIVE GUIDELINES RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF SORING THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE, AND ADOPT ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE INDUSTRY THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND PROTECTS THE INDUSTRY.
Whereas, both H.R. 1518 and S. 1406 are pending before their respective bodies of the United State Congress; and
Whereas, both bills seek to eliminate the practice of soring the Tennessee Walking Horse by eliminating the practice of fitting these horses with weighted shoes and action devices; and
Whereas, while the purpose of both bills appears to be valid, in practice neither bill solves the problem of soring the Tennessee Walking Horse for numerous reasons which include: the information and photographs used to support both bills were compiled twenty years ago, before the industry began to reform itself, and are not supported by science or research; the current legal performance shoe and action device do not cause harm to a horse; and the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported on November 3, 2013, a 96.7% compliance rate with their current regulations; and
Whereas, the USDA has never prosecuted an alleged violator for a pressure soring violation; and
Whereas, other breeds of horses, which include the American Saddlebred, Friesian, Hackney, and Dressage, use the same performance shoes and action devices as the Tennessee Walking Horse. However, both bills do not affect the use of similar shoes and action devices on these breeds of horses; and
Whereas, passage of H.R. 1518 and S. 1406 would eliminate 85% of the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry--15,000 show horses valued at 1.3 billion dollars, 20,309 jobs in Tennessee alone, and a negative 3.2 billion dollar impact nationwide; and
Whereas, the Walking Horse Industry has proposed alternative legislation that would punish those who harm horses without eliminating a total division of an equine breed or increase the tax burden on hard-working Americans; and
Whereas, the Walking Horse Industry proposed and supported legislation would establish a single, independent horse industry organization to manage the inspection and penalty process for the entire industry. This organization would establish objective inspection standards, impose strict penalties for any violations, and put the financial burden for compliance with these standards on the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry which avoids needless intervention by the federal government. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, respectfully memorialize the United States Congress to defeat H.R. 1518 and S. 1406 which would enact excessive guidelines relating to the practice of soring the Tennessee Walking Horse and adopt alternative legislation proposed by the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry that addresses this issue and protects the industry.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
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