McCain Joins Race to End Horse Slaughter
WASHINGTON DC, Sep 22, 2006 – Senator John McCain (R-AZ) joins the race to end horse slaughter by co-sponsoring legislation that will effectively ban the practice.
Also adding their support this week are Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Introduced by Senator John Ensign (R-NV), the only veterinarian in Congress, and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), S. 1915 has 25 co-sponsors.
Its companion bill, H.R. 503, recently passed the U.S. House by a margin of 263-146. Two poison pen amendments designed to render the bill ineffective were soundly defeated.
"Time is not on our side to get S. 1915 moved out of Committee, where it is currently being held until after the mid-term elections, and onto the floor for a vote." states Vivian Farrell, President of the Int'l Fund for Horses. "For this legislation to have any chance of being successful, it is imperative we get a vote by the end of the year."
According to data released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture for weeks ending August 26 and September 2, 2006, slaughter plants killed more horses than any week in over a decade. Butchering 2,456 and 2,520 horses for human consumption, respectively, these killings represent a 30 percent increase over the 2006 weekly average and the bloodiest since November 1994.
Groups such as the Int'l Fund for Horses together with horse lovers, owners and industry representatives from around the country are lobbying hard to achieve this. "We have never been in a stronger position to get horse slaughter banned," Farrell adds. "This latest show of support from Senator McCain has given us a much-needed boost."
The Int'l Fund for Horses is the most dynamic equine advocacy organization of its kind. Headquartered in the United States, the Int'l Fund for Horses works for the passage and enforcement of horse protection legislation, and intervenes on behalf of horse in health, safety and welfare issues. Learn more at www.horsefund.org.
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If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Vivian, please telephone 713.893.7813, or email her here.
