URGENT: U.S. House of Representatives to Vote
on Horse Slaughter

Support Spratt-Whitfield-Rahall-Chandler Amendment

Dear Humanitarian:

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote TODAY on an amendment introduced by U.S. Representatives John Spratt (D-SC), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ben Chandler (D-KY) to temporarily stop horse slaughter. The amendment, which is being offered to the Agriculture Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008, is almost identical to one passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. Congress two years ago. However, it includes additional language to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from circumventing the will of Congress, as happened in 2005 when the slaughter continued. Its passage will ensure horse slaughter is brought to a halt while Congress considers passage of a permanent ban on this abhorrent trade.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please contact your U.S. Representative TODAY, urging him or her to support a ban on horse slaughter through the Spratt-Whitfield-Rahall-Chandler Amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill – and to vote against any amendment that would remove this language.  Also, ask your legislator to cosponsor the full American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503), which would permanently end horse slaughter.

Respectfully remind your U.S. Representative that:

• More than 100,000 horses were brutally slaughtered in this country last year at three foreign-owned slaughterhouses.  Their meat was exported for human consumption in Europe and Asia.
• Americans overwhelmingly support an end to this abhorrent trade.
• Two years ago, Congress passed a similar amendment by an overwhelming majority, but it was circumvented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – and the slaughter continued.  The Spratt-Whitfield-Rahall-Chandler Amendment will prevent the USDA from circumventing Congressional will.
• Passage of the Spratt-Whitfield-Rahall-Chandler Amendment will temporarily halt horse slaughter by stripping funds from the inspection of slaughter-bound horses – inspections without which the slaughter cannot occur.

To find your Representative, please visit www.compassionindex.org/search.htm or call the Capitol Hill operator at (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to your legislator's office.

Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their Representative, too.  As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
Legislative Director