On January 17th, Representatives Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), John Spratt (D-SC) and Nick Rahall (D-WV) reintroduced in Congress H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA).

This legislation, a new version of the former American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act which was overwhelmingly passed by the House of Representatives last year but died in the Senate at the end of the 109th Congress, would prohibit permanently the slaughter of horses for human consumption as well as the exportation of live horses intended for the same purpose, making sure that no American horse is slaughtered in the US nor shipped to be slaughtered abroad. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the House Committee on Agriculture.

A similar bill, S. 311, was also introduced last January 17th in the Senate by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Although two recent federal court rulings -one from the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upholding a longstanding Texas state law banning the sale, possession and transportation of horse meat for sale for human consumption and other one from the U.S. DC District Court declaring illegal an USDA fee-for-inspection plan to circumvent an amendment to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill removing funding for mandatory USDA ante-mortem inspections of horses for slaughter- forced the closure of the three horse slaughterhouses operating the US, American horses continue to be exported for slaughter to Canada and Mexico. In addition, the horse slaughter industry is appealing these rulings and attempting to repeal the Texas state law banning horse slaughter. This makes the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503 and S. 311) extremely important since it would not only prevent American horses from being sent for slaughter abroad but also would put a definitive, permanent end to horse slaughter in the United States.

Immediate action is needed in order to ensure the passage of this vital legislation which will put an end once and for all to the slaughter of American horses, domestic or wild alike.

See actual bills, H.R. 503 and S. 311.

View supporters of the AHSPA.

How you can help
Please, contact your federal Representative urging him to cosponsor H.R. 503 as well as your two U.S. Senators requesting them to cosponsor S. 311.

In addition, please contact the members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce who have not cosponsored yet H.R. 503 –particularly its Chair and Minority Ranking Member- asking them to cosponsor it as well as those members of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that have not cosponsored yet S. 311 requesting them to do so with S. 311 and urging them to act quickly on these bills.

Download list of members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with phone and fax numbers.

Download list of members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with phone and fax numbers.

Let your legislators know that an overwhelming majority of Americans (over 80% according to polls) are opposed to horse slaughter. Tell them that horse slaughter promotes abuse and theft, that after California banned horse slaughter in 1998, horse theft decreased by 34% and how abuse didn't increase as a result of the ban as it neither did in Illinois when the state sole horse slaughter plant closed for two years in 2002.

Faxed and mailed letters, followed by phone calls are the most effective way to contact your legislators.

It is very important as well to get the word out about this legislation. Please, tell your family, friends and coworkers about the AHSPA and ask them to write their federal legislators in support of this vital legislation. Writing letters to the editor to your area's newspapers and other media outlets is also an excellent way to inform the public. Links to local, state and national media can be found at Newslink.org.

Information about the AHSPA and locating your legislators
To locate your legislators and their contact information along with FAQ's, facts on horse slaughter, statements of support, articles and much more about horse slaughter, please visit the National Horse Protection Coalition (NHPC) or Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) websites.

You can also find out who your legislators are by visiting the Contacting Congress website.

Remember, the only way to stop the slaughter of American horses is by passing the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503 and S. 311) currently before the US Congress.

Contacting Representatives and Senators of 110th Congress
A number of contact info lists with phone and fax numbers of legislators as well as links to their detailed contact information are available for download here:

Download phone and fax directory of the members of the 110th Congress.
Download list of members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Download list members of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

You may also visit the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate websites for official lists of the members of the 110th Congress.

Background Information on Horse Slaughter
Mary Nash.org
Mary Nash's Horsemeat Website
National Horse Protection Coalition
Society for Animal Protective Legislation
Just Say Whoa.org

Join the Yahoo Group
The Against Horse Slaughter Yahoo group is fighting daily to win support for S. 1915. Join now!

You can also join us on the Habitat for Horses Members' Against Horse Slaughter forum.

Related Information
Video: Reclaiming the American Horse (windows media player required) view >>
Facts and Fallacies of Horse Slaughter (.ppt file - Warning: Graphic content) read >>
What Happens if the Slaughterhouses Close? read >>
Just Say "Whoa!", Town supports effort to stop horse slaughtering read >>
Cavel International Horse Slaughterhouse is Rebuilding read >>
Horse Slaughter: An Unnecessary Evil (.doc file) read >>
Survey Shows Texans Strongly Oppose Horse Slaughter read >>
Up Close: The Business of Slaughtering Horses read >>

Email this site to a friend