WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) urged his colleagues to support the legislation which aims to prohibit the senseless slaughter of over 90,000 American horses each year for foreign consumption. The legislation is scheduled for a vote on Thursday, September 7.
“Never in the history of our nation have horses had broad appeal to the American palate. But the fact of the matter is that the flesh of horses has been considered a delicacy to foreign diners in countries such as France, Belgium and Japan, whose gourmet tastes are being satisfied by the slaughtering of American horses. America’s horses should not be sacrificed any longer to fatten foreign diners or slaughterhouse profits,” said Rep. Rahall.
The bipartisan legislation, championed by Rahall, the Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, along with Reps. Ed Whitfield (D-KY), John Spratt (D-SC) and John Sweeney (R-NY), will put a stop to the commercial slaughter of American horses for consumption overseas. Last year alone, approximately 91,000 horses were slaughtered at three foreign-owned slaughterhouses operating in Texas and Illinois, solely to serve the foreign market in horse meat.
“The very idea that horses would be slaughtered as a food source for foreign consumption has struck an objectionable chord with the American people, who have always shared a special bond with horses. It is time, once and for all, to stop this brutal and inhumane practice,” said Congressman Rahall.
![[New for the Democrats - Committee on Resources - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, Ranking Democrat - 1329 Longworth HOB - Washington, DC 20015]](news_banner.gif)
