Horse Protection Amendments Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 2, 2017

Horse Protection Amendments Act

This bill amends the Horse Protection Act to replace the Designated Qualified Persons program responsible for inspecting horses for soring with a new inspection system. (The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse's limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness.)

The Department of Agriculture must establish a single Horse Industry Organization (HIO) in order to establish a formal affiliation with the management of each horse sale, horse exhibition, and horse sale or auction, appoint inspectors to conduct inspections, and otherwise ensure compliance with the Horse Protection Act.

The Commissioners of Agriculture for Tennessee and Kentucky must appoint individuals to the HIO. Those individuals must appoint individuals representing the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4] · R–TN

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

10 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Mar 17, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
Mar 2, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 2, 2017
Introduced in House
Mar 2, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Mar 2, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.1338 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.1338, 115th Congress: Horse Protection Amendments Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1338

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1338/BILLS-115hr1338ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1338 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1338 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.1338, 115th Congress: Horse Protection Amendments Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1338

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1338/BILLS-115hr1338ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1338 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1338 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1338, 115th Congress: Horse Protection Amendments Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1338

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1338/BILLS-115hr1338ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1338 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1338 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1338, 115th Congress: Horse Protection Amendments Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1338

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1338/BILLS-115hr1338ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1338 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.