American Horse Slaughter

Federal Action Alert: The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act Reintroduced in Congress

Bill Number: H.R. 503/S. 311
Sponsor(s): Representatives Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Nick Rahall (D-WV), John Spratt (D-SC); Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV)
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Send a letter to your senators and representative now and urge them to support the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act!

Update, 4/26/07: On Wednesday, April 25, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to move this important bill to the entire Senate for a vote, without making any changes to it. Please take action on this legislation if you have not already done so. We’ll let you know when the Senate vote is imminent.

Update, 4/23/07: On April 25, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will meet to “mark-up” S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. The Senate committee will decide on language that will be presented to the full Senate for a vote. It is vital that senators hear from their constituents on this issue—particularly the 23 senators on this committee. Whether or not they are members of the committee, we ask everyone to please call your senators and urge them to support this important legislation and move it to the full Senate for a vote right away! Click here to see if one of your senators is on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Last year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Unfortunately, Congress recessed for the year before the Senate had a chance to vote on the measure. As a result, the bill died and had to be reintroduced in both houses of Congress this year. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), H.R. 503/S. 311, has now been reintroduced by the 110th Congress! The bill would prohibit the transport, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of any horse to be slaughtered for human consumption.

Last year, over 100,000 American horses were killed in the United States and shipped to Europe and Japan for human consumption. Every week that Congress fails to take action on the AHSPA, thousands of American horses will be slaughtered and sent overseas.

Additionally, the transport of horses to slaughter houses is often extremely inhumane. Many horses are injured even before reaching the slaughter plant due to overcrowded conditions during transport. Some are shipped for more than 24 hours at a time without food, water or rest. In addition, the methods used to slaughter these horses once they arrive at the plant can be exceptionally inhumane. The horses are often forced to endure repeated stuns or blows, and often remain conscious during their slaughter.

H.R. 503 and S. 311 would put an end to this cruel and inhumane practice by effectively prohibiting horse slaughter in the U.S. for human consumption.

Thank you for your support last year, and please help us advance this important legislation once again. Contact your senators and representative now and urge them to support and cosponsor H.R. 503/S. 311. Take action now!

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