CHRI Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan “Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019”
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity (CHRI) these days announced its sturdy guide for the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, added by U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Andy Barr (R-KY) earlier today. The bill, distinctive as H.R. 1754, would create a non-public, impartial horse racing anti-doping authority,
the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority (HADA), chargeable for developing and administering a nationwide anti-doping and medication manipulate application for horse racing. HADA would be ruled through a board composed of six people who’ve established know-how in a selection of horse-racing regions, six individuals from the USA Anti-Doping Agency, and its leader executive officer. USADA is recognized by way of Congress because of the reputable anti-doping corporation for the U.S. Olympic, Pan American, and Paralympic sports.
The new set of guidelines, trying out processes, and consequences could replace the contemporary patchwork of regulatory systems that govern horse racing’s 38 jurisdictions. Passage of this invoice will bring about a widespread boom in out-of-opposition checking out, with a purpose to help make certain horses are unfastened from performance-enhancing drugs throughout racing and schooling.
“This is a horse-first bill. This invoice will help make sure a more secure surroundings for horses and riders at all tracks,” stated Shawn Smeallie, executive director of CHRI. “Representatives Tonko and Barr, together with their respective body of workers participants, have labored tirelessly in this regulation. Thanks to their efforts, this initiative has received the aid of key stakeholders across the industry and continues to gain momentum. We look ahead to operating with other racing industry companies to make certain efficient legislative activity this yr.”
H.R. 1754 is sort of the same to the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017 (H.R. 2651), also brought employing Reps. Barr and Tonko, which garnered the bipartisan guide of extra than 130 representatives remaining in Congress. Joining the effort in 2019 are Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), co-chairs of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. CHRI is optimistic that the regulation will flow via the committee technique this 12 months, building on this sturdy display of key lawmakers’ help.
“Horses need to race and train handiest while they’re loose from overall performance-enhancing drugs and now not on a cocktail of medications,” stated Marty Irby, government director of Animal Wellness Action. “We are proud of the key leaders within the horse racing enterprise and animal safety corporations that have come together in this bill.”
