Horse Slaughter Prevention Bill May Not See Action Until Next Year

Horse Slaughter Bill on Hold
by: Amanda Duckworth
September 2006 Article # 7719

A bill in the U.S. Senate that aims to end horse slaughter for human consumption will most likely be put on hold until next year.

"With an abbreviated schedule in this session before we adjourn for elections and the recess, it doesn't look like we are going to have the time to get to it," said Jack Finn, communications director for Nevada Sen. John Ensign. "You never know, but it probably will not be until next year."

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act was passed by the House Sept. 7 by a vote of 263-146. Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Ensign, who is a veterinarian, and Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu.

If the bill becomes a law, it would shut the three horse slaughter plants in the country. The plants in Forth Worth and Kaufman, Texas, and DeKalb, Ill., slaughtered more than 90,000 horses last year.

Because of a clerical error, the wrong version of the bill was delivered to the Senate. The error was discovered the week of Sept. 10, and the House requested the bill be returned so the correct version could be sent.

The bill has been a volatile issue due to the horse's place in American culture. One of the main concerns of those who oppose the bill is what will happen to horses previously headed for slaughter.

Wrong Version of Horse Slaughter Prevention Bill Sent to Senate

Clerical Error Sends Wrong Slaughter Bill To Senate
by Amanda Duckworth
Date Posted: 9/18/2006 2:22:13 PM
Last Updated: 9/18/2006 2:48:37 PM

Because of a clerical error, the wrong version of a bill to end horse slaughter was delivered to the U.S. Senate. The error was discovered the week of Sept. 10, and the House of Representatives requested the bill be returned so the correct version can be sent.

Lawmakers expect that the issue will be resolved quickly, according to Brent Dolen, press secretary for Kentucky Rep. Ed Whitfield. Whitfield and New York Rep. John Sweeney were lead sponsors of the bill while it was in the House.

The original version of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act was passed by the House Sept. 7. However, a House clerk apparently delivered an amended version of the bill that would have allowed existing slaughter plants to remain open.

Last year more than 90,000 horses were slaughtered in the United States. If the bill becomes law, the three existing plants, which are in Fort Worth and Kaufman, Texas, and DeKalb, Ill., will be shut down.

Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Moves to Senate for Vote

House of Representatives Passes Bill to End Horse Slaughter
Congress Responds to its Humane Grassroots Constituency

(from SAPL)
Dear Humanitarian:

Last week, the House of Representatives voted 263 to 146 in favor of H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the domestic and international transport of live horses or horseflesh for the same purpose.

The measure, which will now move on to the Senate, was adopted despite opponents strident last-minute efforts including numerous poison pill amendments and intense lobbying by the horse slaughter industry, led by former Representative Charlie Stenholm (D-TX).

In the debate leading up to the vote, bill sponsors Representative John Sweeney (R-NY), Representative John Spratt (D-SC), Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV) effectively argued the legislations necessity. Showing graphic images of the horrific cruelty endured by horses being transported to slaughterhouses, they exposed the inhumane conditions inflicted on over 92,000 of Americas horses last year alone.

This huge victory was made possible by support from dedicated individuals who made sure Members of Congress knew where they stood and had the knowledge to reject the false claims being presented by the few who profit from the suffering of Americas horses. It couldnt have happened without your help!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please begin contacting your Senators NOW, urging their co-sponsorship of S. 1915, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 503, and requesting a vote on the legislation in the current session of Congress. Last year, the Senate voted for a temporary ban on horse slaughter by a vote of 69 to 28. To see how your Senators voted on that measure, click here. If either of them voted for this ban, be sure to remind them of this sensible position.

If your Representative voted in favor of H.R. 503, please contact him or her to say thank you for supporting protection of Americas horses. To see the results of the House vote, click here.

To find your Senators, click here or call the Capitol Hill operator at (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to your Senators offices. For more information on horse slaughter and how you can help make a difference for America's horses, please click here.

Letters should be addressed to:
Office of Senator (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Office of Representative (Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Be sure to tell your Senators you would like to know their positions on this critical issue and forward their responses with us to assist our lobbying efforts.

Please share our Dear Humanitarian eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their legislators, too. As always, thank you for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
Legislative Director
www.saplonline.org
www.compassionindex.org




Sign up for SAPL eAlerts to receive the latest legislative news on what you can do to help us protect all animals. http://www.saplonline.org/action.htm

House Passes American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (HR 503)

Press Release Source: T. Boone Pickens

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives

Thursday September 7, 3:18 pm ET
T. Boone Pickens Applauds U.S. Reps for Protecting Horses, Urges Senate to do the Same

DALLAS, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The following was released today by T. Boone Pickens:
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503), a bipartisan bill to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption, has just passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a final vote of 263 to 146. It now moves on to the Senate, where Senator and veterinarian John Ensign (R-NV) and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have reintroduced an identical measure (S. 1915).

"I applaud every U.S. Representative who voted in favor of H.R. 503. Thank you for standing up for America, for our ideals, and for our horses," said T. Boone Pickens, legendary oilman and philanthropist, who along with his wife, Madeleine, is an outspoken opponent of horse slaughter. "I urge the Senate to pass the Senate version of this bill quickly, and with no amendments."

Life-long animal lovers, T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens have joined forces with key horse organizations, including The National Horse Protection Coalition, in a campaign to support The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Together, they have run a series of full-page ads in newspapers across the country, asking the public to contact their lawmaker and urge them to vote "Yes" on H.R. 503. The Pickens plan on continuing the campaign through the Senate vote.

"We are well on our way towards ending this despicable practice," said Pickens. "But the fight is not over. We will continue our efforts through the Senate vote, until every American horse is safe from the threat of being served as 'Sunday's Special' in a French restaurant."

A recent national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies shows that nearly 70% of Americans strongly oppose killing horses for people to eat. Republican and Democrat, young and old, east coast to west coast, poll findings show that Americans overwhelmingly oppose horse slaughter.

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has the support of 202 co- sponsors and is championed by more than 500 organizations, including such industry groups as the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Churchill Downs.

[READ ENTIRE ARTICLE]

National Call-in Day for Horses Sept. 6

PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL CALL IN DAY FOR HORSES