URGENT TODAY!! HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL UP FOR COMMITTEE VOTE TORROW! PLEASE CALL TODAY!

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HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL UP FOR COMMITTEE VOTE

 

September 8, 2008

 

 

AWI has learned that the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) will be voted on by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, September 10th. The bill, which was introduced in July by Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), will criminalize the slaughter of American horses. While the vast majority of Americans, the United States Congress and members of the House Judiciary Committee support an end to horse slaughter there are some members on the committee who are staunch supporters of horse slaughter and will attempt to kill the bill through subterfuge.

What You Can Do:

Call and/or email members of the House Judiciary Committee (see full list below) TODAY and ask them "to support passage of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) out of committee as introduced, with NO amendments". Please also ask them "to cosponsor H.R. 6598 if they haven't done so already." Let them know

that:

 

 

 

Every 5 Minutes an American horse is slaughtered for human consumption abroad. Visit www.every5minutes. org for the current number and to learn more about this industry.

 

Despite the closure of the country's three remaining horse slaughter plants in 2007, tens of thousands of American horses continue to be slaughtered in Canada and Mexico in the absence of a strong US law banning prohibiting the trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* The photo above is of a horse in Texarkana, Arkansas, found beaten and crammed onto a horse trailer being transported to slaughter with 18 other horses.

 

 

Horse slaughter is not humane euthanasia; it is a brutal process during which horses suffer terribly from start to finish. Their trip to Mexico is often on double deck trailers where they are crammed with dozens of other horses for up to 30 hours without food, water or rest. Once in Mexico some slaughterhouses use a "puntilla" or knife to stab the horse to death. The entire process is extremely inhumane.

 

Despite claims to the contrary, horse slaughter is not a necessary evil through which sick, old and unwanted horses are humanely disposed of. The industry is a predatory one that actively seeks out marketable and healthy horses to be slaughtered at great profit.

 

According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 92% of horses going to slaughter are in good condition and could be placed in a new home. Those horses who are truly sick or old should be humanely euthanized on the spot by a licensed veterinarian.

 

Horsemeat is considered a delicacy in many European and Asian countries where it is consumed by high-end diners.

 

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) will end this cruel trade for good. Ending horse slaughter is a positive step in improving horse welfare in the US, which is why so many horse industry groups and leaders, veterinarians, humane organizations and equine rescues strongly support an end to horse slaughter.

 

Whether you contact your legislator by phone or email, please be sure to provide him or her with your name and mailing address, and if you are a constituent, request a response on this specific issue. Please also share our "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their legislators, too. As always, thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,Cathy LissPresidentwww.awionline. org www.compassionindex .org

 

For over 57 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionlin e.org/joinus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Because of the urgency and limited time we encourage you to call each office and ask for their support. There is no need to contact Chairman Conyers or Representative Scott given their lead on the bill itself. * denotes that the member has a history of supporting measures to end horse slaughter. Bolded name denotes they are a current cosponsor of H.R. 6598.

 

 

 

 

Democrats

 

Republicans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., (MI)*ChairmanTel: 202-225-5126Fax: 202-225-0072Email: john.conyers@ mail.house. gov

The Honorable Lamar Smith (TX)Ranking MemberTel: 202-225-4236Fax: 202-225-8628

 

The Honorable Mark Berman (CA)*Tel: 202-225-4695Fax: 202-225-3196Email: howard.berman@ mail.house. gov

The Honorable Lamar Smith (TX)Ranking MemberTel: 202-225-4236Fax: 202-225-8628

 

The Honorable Rick Boucher (VA)*Tel: 202-225-3861Fax: 202-225-0442Email: ninthnet (AT) mail (DOT) house.gov

The Honorable John Sensenbrenner (WI)Tel: 202-225-5101Fax: 202-225-3190

 

The Honorable Jerry Nadler (NY)*Tel: 202-225-5635Fax: 202-225-6923

The Honorable Howard Coble (NC)Tel: 202-225-3065Fax: 202-225-8611Email: howard.coble@ mail.house. gov

 

The Honorable Bobby Scott (VA)*Tel: 202-225-8351Fax: 202-225-8354

The Honorable Elton Gallegly (CA)*Tel: 202-225-5811Fax: 202-225-1100

 

The Honorable Melvin Watt (NC)*Tel: 202-225-1510Fax: 202-225-1512

The Honorable Bob Goodlatte (VA)Tel: 202-225-5431Fax: 202-225-9681

 

The Honorable Zoe Lofgren (CA)*Tel: 202-225-3072Fax: 202-225-3336

The Honorable Steve Chabot (OH)*Tel: 202-225-2216Fax: 202-225-3012

 

The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee (TX)*Tel: 202-225-3816Fax: 202-225-3317

The Honorable Dan Lungren (CA)*Tel: 202-225-5716Fax: 202-226-1298

 

The Honorable Maxine Waters (CA)*Tel: 202-225-2201Fax: 202-225-7854

The Honorable Chris Cannon (UT)Tel: 202-225-7751Fax: 202-225-5629Email: cannon.ut03@ mail.house. gov

 

The Honorable Jim Delahunt (MA)*Tel: 202-225-3111Fax: 202-225-5658Email: william.delahunt@ mail.house. gov

The Honorable Ric Keller (FL)*Tel: 202-225-2176Fax: 202-225-0999

 

The Honorable Robert Wexler (FL)*Tel: 202-225-3001Fax: 202-225-5974

The Honorable Darrell Issa (CA)*Tel: 202-225-3906Fax: 202-225-3303

 

The Honorable Linda Sanchez (CA)Tel: 202-225-6676Fax: 202-226-1012

The Honorable Mike Pence (IN)*Tel: 202-225-3021Fax: 202-225-3382

 

The Honorable Steve Cohen (TN)*Tel: 202-225-3265Fax: 202-225-5663

The Honorable Randy Forbes (VA)*Tel: 202-225-6365Fax: 202-226-1170

 

The Honorable Hank Johnson (GA)*Tel: 202-225-1605Fax: 202-226-0691

The Honorable Steve King (IA)Tel: 202-225-4426Fax: 202-225-3193

 

The Honorable Betty Sutton (OH)*Tel: 202-225-3401Fax: 202-225-2266

The Honorable Tom Feeney (FL)Tel: 202-225-2706Fax: 202-226-6299

 

The Honorable Gutierrez (IL)*Tel: 202-225-8203Fax: 202-225-7810

The Honorable Trent Franks (AZ)Tel: 202-225-4576Fax: 202-225-6328

 

The Honorable Brad Sherman (CA)*Tel: 202-225-5911Fax: 202-225-5879

The Honorable Louie Gohmert (TX)Tel: 202-225-3035Fax: 202-225-5866

 

The Honorable Tammy Baldwin (WI)*Tel: 202-225-2906Fax: 202-225-6942

The Honorable Jim Jordan (OH)Tel: 202-225-2676Fax: 202-226-0577

 

The Honorable Anthony Weiner (NY)*Tel: 202-225-6616Fax: 202-226-7253Email: weiner (AT) mail (DOT) house.gov

 

 

The Honorable Adam Schiff (CA)*Tel: 202-225-4176Fax: 202-225-5828

 

 

The Honorable Artur Davis (AL)*Tel: 202-225-2665Fax: 202-226-9567

 

 

The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL)*Tel: 202-225-7931Fax: 202-226-2052

 

 

The Honorable Keith Ellison (MN)*Tel: 202-225-4755Fax: 202-225-4886

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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