Tennessee U.S. Representatives John Rose (R-TN-06) and Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) released statements Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) refused to expand its public comment period for a proposed rule that threatens to “decimate” the entire Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
In August, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed a rule banning devices and pads, which would eliminate entire categories of competition for Tennessee Walking Horses.
Performance categories currently account for 70 percent of the horses entered in shows, including the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
In September, Rose and DesJarlais led a letter to the USDA requesting a 60-day extension to its public comment period on the proposed rule as well as outlining why more time would be “critical to ensure the most comprehensive and focused comments are submitted to APHIS for review.”
Michael Watson, acting administrator for APHIS, replied to Rose and DesJarlais’ letter three days before the comment period was planned to end, saying it would “carefully consider” their request.
“When the government proposes a new rule that threatens to decimate an entire industry, 60 days of public comment is insufficient,” Rose said in a statement. “I’m more than disturbed by the USDA’s decision to deny the many stakeholders of the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry more time to prepare thoughtful, data-driven, and science-based comments on the proposed rule. This is another example of government gone wrong.”
DesJarlais added, “President Biden’s liberal USDA is pushing forward with a flawed rule that will do nothing to protect the already well cared for horses. This industry, in the heart of my district, has been under attack for years. I have a long history of defending the walking horse industry from overburdensome and ineffective government regulation since I came to Congress in 2011.”
The Tennessee Walking Horse is the Volunteer State’s official horse.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
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