“Find out who our friends are on Capitol Hill”

The Scorecard tracks Member engagement across a series of bipartisan, industry‑relevant bills that advanced equine health, workforce development, tax policy, rural veterinary capacity, and public lands access. In addition to legislative sponsorship and co‑sponsorship, the Scorecard incorporates additional factors like membership in the Congressional Horse Caucus and responsiveness to AHC and industry stakeholders.

Top‑Ranked Members of Congress

To recognize outstanding leadership, AHC is pleased to announce the Top 10 Representatives and Top 10 Senators who demonstrated the highest combined scores across all evaluation categories.

Top 16 Representatives

1. Rep. Andy Barr (KY)
2. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX)
3. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN)
4. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI)
5. Rep. G.T. Thompson (PA)
6. Rep. Brad Finstad (MN)
7. Rep. Jim Costa (CA)
8. Rep. Paul Tonko (NY)
9. Rep. Don Bacon (NE)
10. Rep. Jack Bergman (MI)

Top 10 Senators  

1. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN)
2. Sen. Cindy Hyde‑Smith (MS)
3. Sen. John Boozman (AR)
4. Sen. Mike Crapo (ID)
5. Sen. Ted Budd (NC)
6. Sen. Thom Tillis (NC)
7. Sen. Jerry Moran (KS)
8. Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (AL)
9. Sen. Steve Daines (MT)
10. Sen. Jim Risch (ID)

These lawmakers distinguished themselves through consistent legislative engagement, active participation in the Congressional Horse Caucus, and strong responsiveness to equine industry concerns throughout the year.

Key Legislative Measures Included in the 2025 Scorecard

The following bills were used as weighted indicators of congressional support:

Equine Health, Biosecurity & Disease Prevention

• H.R. 3915 — Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2025
• H.R. 3392 / S. 1751 — STOP Screwworms Act (Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms Act)
• H.R. 1266 / S. 545 — Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

Veterinary Workforce & Rural Access

• H.R. 2398 / S. 1163 — Rural Veterinary Workforce Act

Equine & Agricultural Tax Policy

• H.R. 1112 — Racehorse Tax Parity Act
• H.R. 1113 — Race Horse Cost Recovery Act of 2025
• H.R. 1301 / S. 587 — Death Tax Repeal Act
• H.R. 703 / S. 213 — Main Street Tax Certainty Act
• H.R. 1582 / S. 1177 — Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025
• S. 930 — Capital gains exclusion on reinvested farmland property

Workforce Training, Credentialing & Outdoor Recreation

• H.R. 1151 / S. 756 — Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
• S. 811 — RTP Full Funding Act of 2025 (Recreational Trails Program)
• S. 1547 — America the Beautiful Act

Additional Evaluation Factors

Beyond legislative sponsorships, the Scorecard also assesses:

• Membership in the Congressional Horse Caucus — recognizing legislators who formally commit to supporting equine‑related issues.
• Responsiveness to the equine industry — based on Member participation in briefings, meetings, constituent casework, and timely engagement with AHC policy priorities.

Key Findings

• Broad Bipartisan Engagement: Support for equine health, rural veterinary access, and screwworm prevention saw strong bipartisan momentum across both chambers.
• Growing Support for Workforce Development: Bills like the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act and Rural Veterinary Workforce Act continue to draw new co‑sponsors, signaling increased recognition of critical shortages affecting equine and agricultural communities.
• Tax Policy Remains a Priority: Measures such as the Racehorse Tax Parity Act, Main Street Tax Certainty Act, and volunteer driver tax reforms saw meaningful activity, reflecting Members’ interest in supporting small businesses, farms, and nonprofit operations that anchor the equine sector.
• High Responsiveness Marks Industry Allies: Top‑scoring Members demonstrated consistent engagement with AHC throughout the year, participating in congressional briefings, responding quickly to stakeholder inquiries, and championing equine priorities in committee and caucus settings.

AHC Statement

“Equine issues touch agriculture, recreation, rural development, small business, conservation, and public health. This Scorecard reflects which Members of Congress engaged meaningfully on those intersections in 2025,” said Julie Broadway, AHC President. “We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of lawmakers who recognize the equine industry’s role in the economy, in rural communities, and in America’s cultural and recreational life.”

The 2025 Scorecard evaluates members of the 119th Congress based on their sponsorship and co-sponsorship of priority bills. Legislation is selected through consensus among AHC’s diverse membership, focusing on issues that directly impact the equine community. In addition to legislative activity, points are awarded for:

• Membership in the Congressional Horse Caucus
• Participation in AHC events
• Responsiveness and accessibility to AHC members and staff

Importantly, the evaluation process is nonpartisan and does not consider party affiliation.

The bills that were scored:

S. 213 Main Street Tax Certainty Act

S. 545 Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

S. 587 Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025

S. 756 Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act

S. 811 RTP Full Funding Act of 2025

S. 1163 Rural Veterinary Workforce Act

S. 1177 Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025

S. 1547 America the Beautiful Act

S. 1751 STOP Screwworms Act

H.R. 703 Main Street Tax Certainty Act

H.R. 1112 Racehorse Tax Parity Act

H. R. 113 Race Horse Cost Recovery Act of 2025

H.R. 1151 Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act

H.R. 1266 Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

H.R. 1301 Death Tax Repeal Act

H.R. 1582 Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2025

H.R. 2398 Rural Veterinary Workforce Act

H.R. 3392 STOP Screwworms Act

H.R. 3915 Foreign Animal Disease Prevention