District: Kentucky’s 3rd in north central Kentucky – home to the city of Louisville, Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
Experience: Rep. Yarmuth is serving his fourth consecutive term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was first elected in November 2006. His professional background includes positions in media, business, higher education and health care.
Impact on horse racing industry: Rep. Yarmuth has been a leader in Congress for the horse racing industry. He currently is one of a bipartisan group of seven in the U.S. House of Representatives that is drafting comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system. The Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Eight” crafted an immigration reform bill (S.744) earlier this year which is being debated this week on the Senate floor.
Horse racing will likely be impacted by comprehensive immigration reform as both the H-2A visa (used by farm owners for workers) and H-2B visa (used by trainers for grooms) programs are expected to be changed and/or replaced in the Senate bill. It is not clear what form the House bill will take but the NTRA has made certain that Rep. Yarmuth is aware of our industry’s needs and concerns.