Showing Issues

On February 21, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule concerning the H-2B temporary guest worker program. This final rule will make significant changes to the way the H-2B program operates for all employers including those in the horse industry.  This new rule will go into effect on April 23, 2012. 

On June 27, 2011, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011 (S.1281).  The bill would prohibit the interstate transport of any horse in a double-deck truck. Background

On June 9, 2011 Senator Mary Landreiu (D-LA) introduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act S.1176 and on September 19, 2011, Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) introduced the House version of this bill H.R.2966.  This bill would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The Bill

Despite substantial efforts to recruit and train U.S. workers, horse farms, ranches, horse shows, trainers and others must use both the H-2B and H-2A temporary foreign worker programs to meet their labor needs.  Without foreign workers the horse industry could not continue to operate as now does.

On November 18, 2011 the President signed the FY 2012 USDA appropriations bill (H.R. 2112) this bill provides funding for the USDA for the 2012 fiscal year (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012) and contains several provisions of interest to the horse industry. The bill also included a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funded other government activities through December 16, 2011 and contained a provision concerning a new H-2B temporary worker program wage rule opposed by the AHC.     Background

On September 7, 2011 Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced the American Specialty Agriculture Act (H.R.2847).  This bill would create a new, less burdensome temporary foreign agricultural worker program to replace the current H-2A program.

In April 2011, the Senate passed and the President signed the bill to repeal the new 1099 reporting requirement that was scheduled to kick-in in 2012. The House had approved the same bill (H.R 4), introduced by Congressman Lungren (R-CA), earlier this year. The bill repeals only the new broader reporting requirements.  Businesses will still have to send 1099s to independent contractors as current law requires.

Congress has passed an Omnibus Appropriations bill (H.R.2055) that in addition to funding most federal agencies for the remainder of the 2012 fiscal year (October 1, 2011 to September 31, 2012) will prohibit the Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing a new wage rule for the H-2B program.   The new wage rule is opposed by the American Horse Council (AHC) and other H-2B users and would have gone into effect on January 1, 2012.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested comments on a petition it received last August which requested changes to the regulations under the Horse Protection Act (HPA). The Horse Protection Act (HPA) prohibits the showing, transport or sale of horses that have been sored.  Soring involves any practice to accentuate a horse’s gait through the infliction of pain.  USDA publishes regulations under the HPA that outline what is prohibited under the HPA.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) infection in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares, neonatal foal death, and/or neurologic disease.  The neurologic form of EHV-1 is called Equine Herpes Virus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM).  While EHV-1 and EHM are only officially listed as reportable diseases in some states, private veterinary practitioners are encouraged to notify their state animal health officials of any suspected or confirmed cases, regardless of current official state reporting requirements.  Background

The American Horse Council (AHC) has submitted comments to the Department of Labor (DOL) on a proposed rule governing the H-2B program temporary guest worker program. The H-2B program is used by members of the horse industry, principally horse trainers and owners who cannot find American workers to fill semi-skilled jobs at racetracks, horse shows, fairs and in similar non-agricultural activities. Background

In December 2011, Congress passed and the President signed an Omnibus Appropriations bill (H.R.2055) that in addition to funding most federal agencies for the remainder of the 2012 fiscal year (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012) will prohibit the Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing a new wage rule for the H-2B program.   The new wage rule is opposed by the American Horse Council (AHC) and other H-2B users and would have gone into effect on January 1, 2012. 

The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new child labor regulations applicable to agriculture.  The DOL’s stated purpose for the rule making is “to improve the safety of minors under 18 working in both agricultural and nonagricultural jobs.”  The proposed rule changes would place new limits on the work “hired farm workers” under 16 and 18 would be allowed to do and could impact horse farms, ranches and auctions that employ young people who work with horses.   The proposed new rules would not apply to children working on farms and ranches owned or operated by their par

On September 28, the Department of Labor (DOL) delayed the effective date of a new prevailing wage final rule for the H-2B program by 60 days. The wage rule was scheduled to go into effect on September 30, 2011.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed changes to the Horse Protection Act (HPA) that would require horse industry organizations to impose minimum USDA-established penalties for soring.The HPA prohibits the showing, transport or sale of horses that have been sored.  Soring involves any practice to accentuate a horse’s gait through the infliction of pain.  USDA regulations adopted under the HPA outline what is prohibited under the HPA. Background

On August 1, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule moving the effective date of the new prevailing wage final rule for the H-2B program to September 30, 2011. Originally the new rule was to go into effect on January 1, 2012.

Introduction On February 12, 2010 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) adopted its final rule (2010 Rule) governing the H-2A temporary agriculture alien worker program, including those at horse farms.  This rule went in to effect on March 15, 2010. Unfortunately, these new regulations are likely to make the H-2A program more burdensome for employers to utilize.  Background