Legislative Update: Horse Slaughter

By Dr. Angela Demaree, Assistant Director of the GRD

Last month I alerted you to a new bill before Congress, H.R. 6598, The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act. It was introduced by Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on July 24, and it does nothing to improve the welfare of horses or to prevent equine cruelty as its name suggests.

What it will do is criminalize the shipping, transporting, purchasing, possessing, selling, delivering or receiving -- in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce -- any horse (or part of a horse) with the intent that it is to be slaughtered for human consumption. Anyone who knowingly engages in these activities will be fined or imprisoned for up to three years, or both. It also gives the US Attorney General authority to seize horses they believe are intended for slaughter, and it directs the Attorney General to provide for their humane placement or other humane disposition. However, it does not provide additional funding for the Attorney General to accomplish this task.

Since last month, the Judiciary Committee reviewed this legislation in their full committee markup during sessions in mid-September, but, in spite of a lot of debate, the committee moved on to other pressing issues and a vote was not recorded.

On September 23, however, the bill continued to be debated and passed out of committee via voice vote with one amendment, offered by Congressman Goodlatte of Virginia. This amendment requires that the Attorney General consult with the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the seizure and humane placement of horses. With the adoption of this amendment, the parliamentarian has given a sequential referral to the House Agriculture Committee, and the bill is awaiting action by this committee. So, we've made our voices heard—however, we aren't done yet!

You CAN make a difference while Congress is out of session. No need to book a plane ticket to Washington, YOUR REPRESENTATIVE will be at home in your district until after the election and wants to hear about issues that matter to YOU, their constituent. You can find your Member's district office number and location by going to www.house.gov; use the drop down menu of Members by name and you will be taken to your representative's website where the district offices will be listed with phone numbers and location. Call to set up a meeting at a district office that's convenient for you or call to remind them of your concerns about this legislation.

You can also TAKE ACTION by joining our Congressional Advocacy Network and sending a personalized message or making a phone call to your congressional representative to express your concern with this new legislation. Don't forget to take a look at the Media Reports from your state and use that information when you contact your representative to underscore the dire situation in your area!

For more information, contact Dr. Angela Demaree at ademaree@avma.org.