Tomorrow, The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will mark-up Committee Chairman Senator John Boozman’s (R-AR) draft text for his proposed Farm Bill. Importantly, after tireless advocacy by the Sportsmen’s Alliance, its members and affiliates, and strong Congressional leadership, anti-hunting language that was amended into the House Farm Bill was previously removed and is absent from the Senate draft.
However, attacks from animal rights extremists are relentless, and at least three animal rights amendments have been offered for Committee consideration at tomorrow’s hearing, it’s vital that the Committee-approved Farm Bill does not include anti-hunting or extreme animal rights language. To help ensure a clean Farm Bill, contact the Senate Agriculture Committee and urge them to oppose these proposed amendments:
The Greyhound Protection Act
The Greyhound Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 5017) was amended into the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (Farm Bill) in mid-March. That bill, backed by animal rights extremist Wayne Pacelle, could go so far to impact anyone that hunts with bird dogs or scent hounds by banning the use of live animals in dog training. Ultimately, efforts by the Sportsmen’s Alliance fixed the anti-hunting concerns of the amendment, but the prohibition on greyhound racing remains. Similarly, the greyhound racing ban has been offered for amendment into the Senate version of the Farm Bill. While the anti-hunting language is not present, the amendment could still greatly impact breed lineages that are used in open field coursing throughout the country.
The SAFE Act
The Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 (SAFE Act, S. 775) would affect both the small market for sales of privately-owned horses and worsen the huge problem of controlling feral horses on federal public land. The Bureau of Land Management estimates the population of wild horses and burros across the federal estate is over three times the Appropriate Management Level. The ecological impact is devastating – rangelands and riparian areas are degraded, forage and water resources depleted, and native wildlife are displaced. The SAFE Act permanently enshrines incredibly burdensome management restrictions, perpetuating and exacerbating the crisis on America’s rangelands.
The FIGHT Act
The Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-risk Trafficking Act of 2025 (FIGHT Act, S. 1454) is deceptively crafted to appear to address inhumane dog and cock fighting. However, the bill goes much further. It creates a private citizen right of action utilized by animal rights extremists to sue livestock owners (and receive attorneys fees), calls for draconian asset forfeiture and property seizure, and places barnyard animals (roosters) under the purview of the Animal Welfare Act. Ultimately, the amendment provides nothing more than a slippery slope for the animal rights movement to gain momentum to apply the same restrictions on the hunting, wildlife management, and agricultural communities.
The Senate Ag Committee will adopt some variant of the draft tomorrow, and it’s vital that the Committee-approved Farm Bill does not include anti-hunting or extreme animal rights language. The Committee bill will then go to the full Senate, and upon passage, leadership in both the House and Senate will reconcile each chamber’s version to pass a final, unified Farm Bill. The Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to work with both chambers to ensure that the passage of a much-needed Farm Bill does not include anti-hunting or extreme animal rights language.
As sportsmen, we are the true frontline guardians of a lifestyle that is increasingly coming under political fire. While we are actively funding conservation and managing the land, anti-sportsmen groups are busy filling public hearings to erase our way of life. The threats we face today are unprecedented. It is time for our community to stand together, match their energy, and fiercely protect our right to hunt, fish, and trap. This is how we ensure the legacy we inherited is preserved for our kids, grandkids, and generations to come.