U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2019

U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2019 or the PAST Act

This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses' limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness.

Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must license, train, assign, and oversee persons for hire by the management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, or auctions to detect and diagnose sore horses. A license may not be issued to a person with conflicts of interest, and USDA must give preference to veterinarians. USDA may revoke a license for unsatisfactory performance.

In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations. USDA may disqualify (1) violators from specified activities related to horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions; and (2) a horse that is sore from being shown or exhibited.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov