U.S. Horse Slaughter Update

On September 5th, the U.S. House Committee on Rules rejected a bipartisan amendment that would have prevented horse slaughter from returning to the United States.

Each year, the U.S. Congress must approve language preventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture from funding inspections of horse slaughter facilities. This language effectively prevents the horse slaughter industry from setting up shop in the U.S., as has been the case since 2007.

This year, however, there has been much debate over the issue. On July 13th, the House Appropriations Committee failed to pass a similar amendment by a narrow margin (27-25 votes). Then, on July 20th the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favour of an amendment to the fiscal year 2018 Agriculture Appropriations bill to bar any horse slaughter plants from opening in the U.S.

This latest amendment, which went before the U.S. House Committee on Rules, was sponsored by Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ed Royce (R-CA), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and is supported by a large majority of the U.S. House. At this point, however, it has been blocked from being considered on the House floor.

Advocates should contact their state legislators to take a stand against horse slaughter, by calling 202-224-3121.

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