Question of the Week: Horse Slaughter
These questions are culled from phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails sent to my Thousand Oaks, Solvang, and Washington offices. Each week I will add another question and answer.
Week of June 5, 2009
• Question: Have you taken a position on slaughtering American horses to send overseas for human consumption?
→ Answer: Each year, an estimated 90,000 U.S. horses are slaughtered and processed for human consumption in foreign countries. I believe that the commercial sale and slaughter of free-roaming horses for this purpose is a horrible and unnecessary practice. As a result, I have supported several legislative initiatives to put an end to this.
As the co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I have a long record of trying to protect animals from abuse and cruelty. I was one of 29 members of the House named to the Honor Roll of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In addition, the Humane Society of the United States honored me with the Humane Lifetime Achievement Award for my efforts on behalf of animals.
You will be pleased to know that I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 503, legislation introduced by Rep. John Conyers, which would provide a comprehensive, permanent resolution to this problem. It would prohibit engaging in any interstate or foreign transaction involving horses and burros in cases where these animals are solely designated for human consumption.
H.R. 503 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, of which I am a senior member. As a cosponsor, you can be assured that I will do all I can to see that this legislation becomes law.
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