September 20,
2005
We
did it! The U.S. Senate passed an amendment today by a stunning
68-29 vote that prohibits the use of any federal taxpayer
funds to slaughter horses for food exports.
The
amendment, introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Robert
C. Byrd (D-WV), mirrors an amendment that passed the U.S.
House of Representatives in June, which was led by Reps. John
Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt (D-SC), Nick Rahall (D-WV), and
Ed Whitfield (R-KY). Together, these measures will effectively
stop America's horses from being killed in three slaughterhouses
in the U.S. that slaughter horses -- two in Texas and one
in Illinois. The amendment also stops horses from being shipped
to slaughterhouses in Canada or Mexico so that their meat
can be exported to foreign countries.
Click
here to see how your senator voted
"The
time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering
horses in America," said Sen. Ensign. "Horses have
an important role in the history of our country, particularly
the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and
a veterinarian I am committed to doing what I can for these
magnificent animals. Many of the horses sent to slaughter
are perfectly healthy, and turning them over to slaughterhouses
is inhumane and unnecessary."
"The
market for horsemeat is not an American market," said
Sen. Byrd. "Many Americans would be shocked to learn
that our animals suffer such a fate, all in order to satisfy
the tastes of those living in Europe and Asia."
Two
Additional Animal Welfare Amendments Pass U.S. Senate
In
another welcome move, the Senate also approved two additional
animal welfare amendments introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka
(D-HI). One amendment would ensure that "downed livestock"
-- animals too sick or injured to walk -- are not allowed
into the human food supply. The second amendment would prohibit
tax dollars from being used for research facilities that purchase
animals from "Class B dealers" who traffic in family
pets for research.
|
