Senate Requests GAO Study on Horse Welfare

By Dr. Angela Demaree, Assistant Director of the GRD

Further characterization of the current situation facing many horses across the Country, including abandonment, abuse, and neglect, may be little more than a signature away... the President's, that is. The Senate passed its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2010 (H.R. 2997) on August 4, just before adjourning for August Recess. The AVMA is supportive of the proposed GAO study on horse welfare contained in the Senate Appropriations Committee Report.

The House passed its version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill on July 9, also H.R. 2997. Both bills have the same number since the Senate decided to take action on the House-passed version—differences will be reconciled through a Conference Committee comprised of members from both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The Conference Committee is expected to meet this week, following the return from Congressional recess.

The Senate Appropriations Committee Report (111-39) that accompanies the Senate-passed bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study horse welfare and report back to the Senate Committee on Agriculture by March 2010. (The House version did not contain this language). From the Senate bill:

Horse Welfare.—The Committee directs the Government Accountability Office [GAO] to conduct an investigation on the status of horse welfare in this country as it relates to the cessation of horse slaughter operations. In particular, the Committee believes that GAO should consider, at least, how the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S. horse slaughter facilities in terms of both the numbers of horse sales, exports, adoptions, or abandonments; the implications these changes have had on farm income and trade; the extent to which horses in the United States are slaughtered for any purpose; any impacts to State and local governments and animal protection organizations; how the Department oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico; the manner in which the Department coordinates with the Department of the Interior and State governments to assist them in identifying, holding and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export; and general conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption. The Committee expects a report in this investigation by March 1, 2010.

We will continue to monitor action on these bills and by the Conference Committee and will keep you informed of any new developments and their impact on animal welfare.

For more information, please contact Dr. Angela Demaree.