WASHINGTON – The HSUS today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for its vote of 269 to 158 halting the taxpayer support of the slaughter of nearly 90,000 companion horses, thoroughbreds, show horses, family ponies, and other horses each year for foreign consumption.
The successful amendment to the agriculture appropriations spending bill, championed by U.S. Representatives John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt (D-SC), Nick Jo Rahall (D-WV), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) will defund inspections of horses at the three U.S. horse slaughterhouses and border inspections of slaughter-bound horses. The amendment eliminates the practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption, closely tracking the end goals of the Sweeney-Spratt free-standing bill, H.R. 503, which has more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors.
"The 109th Congress is off to a galloping start for animal welfare, and we thank lawmakers for recognizing that horses have a special place in our country," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "These American icons deserve better than to be crammed into cattle trucks for a miserable haul to a processing plant, to be prodded or led down a slaughterhouse line, and to have their throats slit, for the purpose of exporting the dismembered animals to Belgium, France, and Japan. We applaud Congressmen Sweeney, Spratt, Rahall, and Whitfield for getting this important amendment for horses over the finish line."
On May 19, the U.S. House voted to support a similar amendment, by a vote of 249-159, to ban the slaughter of wild mustangs. Today's vote protects domestic horses as well, as there is no justification in slaughtering horses for human consumption abroad. U.S. Senator John Ensign (R-NV) has pledged to introduce a bill in the Senate to outlaw the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
"Since our nation was founded, we as a country have shared a special relationship with the horse," said Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY). "It is unconscionable that for decades, we have been using federal taxpayer dollars to support a practice that the American public is overwhelmingly opposed to. I'm pleased to see that my colleagues agree that this horrid inhumane treatment must end."
In addition to The HSUS and other animal welfare organizations, at least 29 equine industry groups, including the National Show Horse Registry, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the National Steeplechase Association, and Churchill Downs, supported the effort to ban horse slaughter. All three slaughterhouses – Dallas Crown of Kaufman, Texas; BelTex Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas; and Cavel International of DeKalb, Ill. – are foreign-owned companies.
"If you've grown up with and ridden horses as I have, you develop an affinity for these special creatures," said Rep. John Spratt (D-SC). "They're as close to human as you can get in the animal domain."
Added Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, "Horses are a symbol of American freedom and a beloved companion to many citizens, and the House of Representatives today seized the opportunity to put American ideals first by helping to choke off the supply of our horses to foreign-owned slaughterhouses for consumption abroad."
"Today the horse slaughter issue was finally considered in the open, not behind closed doors," said Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY). "The vote was a major victory and shows the overwhelming support in Congress to end this brutal practice. The amazing outpouring of public support helped to make this possible and I thank everyone who supported our efforts today."
The HSUS is extraordinarily grateful to all members of Congress who support the protection of horses, but is especially grateful to Representatives Sweeney, Spratt, Rahall, and Whitfield and Senator Ensign for their leadership on these issues. Sweeney and Spratt are co-chairs of the Congressional Horse Caucus.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than nine million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
The HSUS has video footage to accompany this issue. Visit The HSUS Video Newsroom.
