MEMORANDUM

To:     AHC Member Organizations

From:  American Horse Council

Re:     Horse Slaughter Ban Takes Another Step

Date:   September 27, 2005

The effort at the federal level to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption took another step forward when the Senate added a provision to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Fiscal Year 2006 appropriations bill that would prohibit USDA from using federal funds to pay salaries and expenses of USDA personnel to inspect horses for slaughter.  The House had previously included this provision in its version of the USDA Appropriations bill on June 8.

The amendment was offered by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Trent Lott (R-MS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).  It passed 68 to 29.

Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, all livestock slaughtered, including horses, must be inspected by USDA personnel.  This amendment would cut-off funding for such USDA inspection.  The expectation is that without such inspection, 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 suspension will exist only for Fiscal Year 2006, which extends from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.  The proponents of the amendment believe that this will lead to a shut-down of the three U,S,-based slaughter facilities for a year, during which time they will work on the broader federal legislation providing for a permanent federal ban. 

There are many differences between the House and Senate versions of the USDA Appropriations bill other than this provision.  A Conference Committee will be organized shortly to reconcile these differences and bring one bill back to both the House and Senate for final passage.  Any ban will not go into effect until Congress passes the final conference bill and the President signs it.

Primary House Bill

In February, 2005, Congressman John Sweeney (R-NY) introduced broader federal legislation to prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption.  That bill (H.R. 503) was also sponsored by Congressmen John Spratt (D-SC) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY).  It presently has over 118 co-sponsors. 

This bill would prohibit the shipping, transporting, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines 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 bill authorizes $5 million for enforcement.

The bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  There have been no hearings on this bill.

Primary Senate Bill

Similar permanent legislation has not been introduced in the Senate, but it is expected that Senators Ensign and Byrd will introduce a companion bill to the Sweeney-Whitfield House bill shortly.

If you have any questions about this legislation or its current status, please contact the AHC.