Federal bill brings hope to Montana’s horse slaughter opponents

Posted on 04 May 2009 by admin

SENATE LOUISIANAWashington, DC – There is currently a bill to ban horse slaughter in the United States Senate. Introduced on March 26, 2009, and sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV), S. 727, the Landrieu-Ensign “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act” will end the slaughter of American horses on a national level, as well as the export of horses for slaughter across our borders. The sponsors, who have long championed the cause, have the bipartisan support of 14 colleagues who are co-sponsoring the bill.

The introduction of the legislation came at a time when horse slaughter no longer occurred on U.S. soil, but with Friday’s passing of Montana’s HB 418 the importance to pass the Prevention of the Equine Cruelty Act through the U.S. Senate has become critical.

slaughter_transportThe last two equine slaughterhouses in American were located in Texas and Illinois, and under state law were shut down in 2007. Since then, the pro-slaughter camp has led an intensive and deceitful effort to resurrect the industry domestically; alleged by some as using scare tactics in an attempt to defeat the federal ban. The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act would definitively end state-sanctioned slaughter or the transport of American horses across U.S. borders to be used in overseas meat industries.
This federal legislation is desperately needed to stop the slaughter of American horses anywhere, regardless of whether on U.S. soil or not.

“The time to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America is long overdue,” said Senator John Ensign said. “Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and a veterinarian, I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals.”
The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to acknowledge horse slaughter as a form of animal cruelty. The legislation includes stiff civil and criminal penalties and gives law enforcement officials the authority to apprehend and charge violators.

“The bill, which has had strong support from a majority of Congress and the American public, is long overdue. For years I have pleaded with the pro-horse slaughter camp to stop misleading the public but they are more concerned with wringing a few bucks from a suffering animal than doing what is right,” said Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Legislative and Government Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

horse-in-the-auction-ringAn identical version, HR 503, was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). There are currently 112 bipartisan cosponsors of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act in the House of Representatives.

America owes a debt of gratitude to the millions of horses that helped shape our country. Their tireless service in every aspect of colonial life helped define an antire nation, and as such they should be preserved and protected as the national treasure they are.

Please contact your U.S. Representatives and/or your State Legislators today, and let them know that the slaughter of American horses on U.S. or international soil is an abomination and must be stopped.

To find your Representative, go to Congress.org and click on your state. Letters should be your own individual thoughts delivered in a precise, professional manner.