HISA Draft Letter for Congressmen

The draft letter below can be used to write or email your congressmen expressing your concerns regarding HISA.

If you do not know who your Senator or House Representative is you can find that information here.

www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

June 23, 2022
RE: Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act
Senator or Representatives Name
Address

Dear Senator or Representative ________________ :

At this time, as a member of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association which represents more than 2,000 thoroughbred owners and trainers who race in the state, I would like to alert you as my elected federal official that I believe the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) should halt its botched implementation. As a participant in the horseracing industry, I want to make you aware that the HISA-Authority has failed to follow the direction from Congress to abide by the complete implementation on the designated Program Effective Date of July 1st , 2022. I ask that implementation be delayed by Congress, through authoring and passage of a technical corrections bill that changes the Program Effective Date to January 2nd, 2024.

With only a portion of the current HISA regulations less than one month from the intended start date, I can assure you the regulations are causing industry wide chaos and financial concerns. A delay will allow Congress time to get additional feedback on this legislation from participants in the racing industry who understand this legislation was part of the Covid Relief Bill passed by Congress in December 2020 where the racing portion never even had a committee hearing. This delay would give your constituents time to weigh in and for you to decide whether this legislation should proceed or be repealed as there remains very limited industry support other than the small special interest groups within the industry that pushed the legislation. This legislation is an unfunded mandate for which industry participants will be asked to pay an estimated 60 million dollars yearly to support beginning in 2023. I ask that you step in and delay the HISA implementation through a technical corrections bill.

Sincerely,
Signature
(Print Your Name)
(Print your State and Zip Code)