WASHINGTON − Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, testifies before a U.S. House Subcommittee today in the latest of a series of Congressional hearings resulting from his organization's undercover investigation of the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company.
Chaired by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and entitled "After the Beef Recall: Exploring Greater Transparency in the Meat Industry," the Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearing was to address how increased transparency can enhance compliance with food safety laws and humane handling of animals in the nation's slaughter plants.
"Private undercover investigations such as the one we conducted play an important role in raising public awareness, but they cannot substitute for effective day-to-day oversight of all slaughter plants by the responsible agency," Pacelle said.
The undercover HSUS video exposed the world to horrific abuses of cows unable to stand and led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history, casting doubt on the USDA's ability to adequately enforce humane handling and slaughter laws.
The HSUS urges Congress to enact legislation to strengthen the nation's humane slaughter laws and prevent the type of mistreatment witnessed at Hallmark from occurring at other plants. Specifically, Pacelle will address the need to close a current loophole that allows some downed cows to be slaughtered for human consumption. He will also press members of Congress to strengthen oversight of slaughter plants and enforcement of existing humane handling and slaughter laws, establish more meaningful penalties for violations of those laws, and ensure the humane treatment of animals through changes in the federal procurement program. Related bills include the Downed Animal and Food Safety Act (S. 394 & H.R. 661), the Farm Animal Stewardship Protection Act (H.R. 1726), the Food Safety Recall Information Act (H.R. 5762) and the Downed Animal Enforcement Act (S. 2770).
"Sick and injured cattle are still being slaughtered and funneled into the American food supply under current agency rules. This is a reckless and cruel policy, and I am frankly shocked that the industry and the USDA continue to insist on taking these risks in the face of clear public outrage about the abuse of downers," Pacelle added.
To read Mr. Pacelle's written testimony, please click here. Click here to view the undercover video.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at www.humanesociety.org.
