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Anti-slaughter bill passes

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April 26, 2007

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The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee of the US Senate Wednesday held a mark-up for S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), voting 15-7 in favor of sending the bill to be considered before the full US Senate.

Dispelling arguments from AHSPA opponents, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) argued, �We have this law in place in California� since 1998. The people voted for it, and the state has seen no increase in neglect and no abandoned horses � and this is from the largest state in the Union.�

The three remaining foreign-owned slaughter plants in the United States � located in Illinois and Texas � have been shut down temporarily by recent court decisions. However, passage of the bill is critical to ensure horses are protected from slaughter forever, and that they are not exported elsewhere to be killed for the same purpose.

�Until Congress acts, horses are being hauled under horrible conditions across the border to Mexico and Canada, where they are brutally slaughtered,� said Chris Heyde, deputy legislative director of the Society for Animal Protective Legislation. �The AHSPA is their only hope.�

Two years ago, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to stop horse slaughter for a year, and last year the House passed the bill. Congress went out of session before the Senate could vote on the measure. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act is sponsored in this session by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV).

Before the measure went up for a vote, Senator Ensign stated, �There is no question that this bill will pass in this Committee, in the full Senate and in the House of Representatives, finally stopping horse slaughter.� (American Horse Council press release)

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