Racing Integrity and Safety Act clears House committee
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Eclipse Sportswire
After languishing for 1½ years in the House, a Congressional committee voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to fast-track its version of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act on the same day that a separate version of the bill was introduced in the Senate.
A bipartisan 46-5 vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee moved the proposal to the full House for its consideration this month. Introduced last year by Andy Barr, R-Ky., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., the bill would establish an independent national commission to write one set of drug and medication rules for horse racing. The commission would also work on the advancement of racetrack safety and the enforcement of the new regulations.
The bill was one of 38 that went before the powerful House committee less than two months before election day. It got a shot in the arm when Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., followed through on his announcement last week that he would introduce a Senate version of the bill. It is co-sponsored by Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Martha McSally, R-Ariz.; and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Although the bills make sweeping calls for baseline medication and safety regulations, specifics are being left to the formation of a Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority that would be led by a nine-member board of directors – five from outside of racing and four from within the sport.
If the laws are indeed pushed through both the House and Senate, a conference committee would then work out the differences between the two versions before final votes would send a single version to President Trump. If the bill becomes law this year, it would not take effect until January 2022.
You can read the full text of the House bill here and the Senate bill here.
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