Saturday, March 01, 2008

Present Legislation Pending in the House and the Senate

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act will end the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the domestic and international transport of live horses or horseflesh for human consumption.

Last year over 100,000 horses were slaughtered in one of the three foreign-owned, US-based horse slaughtering facilities located in Texas and Illinois.

H.R. 503, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House by Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Congressman John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC).  In the Senate, S. 311 has been reintroduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator and veterinarian John Ensign (R-NV).  On September 7, 2006, the House of Representatives voted 263 to 146 in favor of H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption.  Sadly, the U.S. Senate failed to act before the end of the 109th Congress.

UPDATE:

On April 25, 2007 the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation reported the bill favorably to the full Senate for consideration. No time has been set for a vote.

The three remaining horse slaughter plants in the United States have been closed due to State laws.  However, without the Federal legislation being passed, it leaves open the possibility of a new plant opening in another state.  It also does not stop the transportation for slaughter
to Canada and Mexico where our horses are meeting a brutal end of life.