American Horse Council Press Release
Contact: American Horse Council
AHC@horsecouncil.org

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2006

Congress Cuts Off USDA Funding for Slaughter for One Year

The effort at the federal level to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption took another step forward, albeit a potentially temporary step, when Congress passed the U.S. Department of Agriculture Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations bill.

That bill included a provision prohibiting USDA from using any of the federal funds appropriated for USDA personnel to inspect horses at slaughter facilities. The President signed the legislation into law in November. The funding ban takes effect in early March, 2006.

Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, all livestock slaughtered, including horses, must be inspected by USDA personnel. Since the ban will cut-off funding for such USDA inspection, the proponents of legislation calling for a permanent ban on slaughter expect that buyers of horses for slaughter or horsemeat will no longer purchase either and the process will effectively be stopped in the U.S.

Since the amendment is part of an appropriations bill, the funding ban will last only for Fiscal Year 2006, which extends from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.

Despite the de-funding provisions, the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to permit the three U.S.-based slaughter facilities to hire their own inspectors and continue to operate. It remains to be seen whether any slaughter facility will petition the Secretary for this authority or the Secretary will grant it if so petitioned.

Primary Bills Providing for Permanent Ban

Broader legislation permanently banning horse slaughter has been introduced in both the House and Senate. The House bill (H.R. 503) was introduced in February, 2005 by Congressmen John Sweeney (R-NY) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY). The Senate legislation was introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Trent Lott (R-MS), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Both bills would prohibit the shipping, receiving, purchase or sale of horses for slaughter for human consumption. Violations of the Act would subject a person to penalties of up to $3,000 and/or one year in jail for the first offense and up to $5,000 and/or two years in jail for a second offense. An offender may also be subject to civil penalties of $2,000 for each violation. The bills authorize $5 million for enforcement.

There have been no hearings or other action on the underlying broader bills calling for a permanent ban.

As the national trade association representing the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and investments. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.

The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.