State and Federal Legislation
110th U.S. Congress (2007—2008)
| DATE | VENUE | ACTIVITY | RESULT |
| January 2008 | South Dakota | Several state senators introduce bill S.B. 170 in the South Dakota legislature that would make a state-funded loan of up to $1 million available to anyone wishing to construct and open a horse slaughtering facility in the state. | S.B. 170 scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Jan 29, 2008. |
| January 2008 | New Jersey | Jan 18: A551, prohibiting slaughter of horses and sale of horseflesh for human consumption, is introduced by Robert S. Dancer. Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. | Unsuccessful. Bill dies in Committee. |
| January 2008 | South Dakota | Jan 29: S.B. 170, a plan to use public funds to build a horse slaughtering facility in South Dakota is killed in Committee. | Unsuccessful. An effort was made to change the language of the bill to say “horse processing” instead of slaughter, but was abortive. |
| July 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Jul 24: HR 6598 – PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT OF 2008 introduced by US Rep John Conyers. See Thomas.gov. | Amends Title 18 of the United States Code prohibiting horse slaughter for human consumption as a form of equine cruelty. This would make it a federal offense to sell a horse for slaughter. |
| Jul 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | July 24: HR 6598 referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | Bill HR 6598 progresses. |
| July 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | July 25: HR 6598 referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. | Bill HR 6598 progresses. |
| September 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Sept 23: HR 6598 discharged from Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Judiciary Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. | Bill HR 6598 progresses. |
| September 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Sept 23: HR 6598 passes out of the House Judiciary Committee by voice vote after majority reject multiple poison pill amendments. | Bill HR 6598 moves successfully out of Cmte. However, see next entry. |
| September 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Sept 28: HR 6598 referred sequentially to the House Committee on Agriculture for a period ending not later than Sept 29, 2008 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(a), rule X. | House Ag Cmte gains control of HR 6598. |
| September 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Sept 29: House Committee on Agriculture granted an extension for further consideration of HR 6598 ending not later than Oct 2, 2008. | HR 6598 must now pass out of the Ag Cmte to be eligible for House vote. Cmte has no intention of hearing this bill. Delaying tactic. |
| October 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Oct 2: House Committee on Agriculture granted an extension for further consideration of HR 6598 ending not later than Oct. 3, 2008. | House Ag Cmte continues delaying tactic to kill HR 6598. |
| October 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | Oct 3: House Committee on Agriculture granted an extension for further consideration of HR 6598 ending not later than Jan. 3, 2009. | House Ag Cmte succeeds in bottling HR 6598 up in their committee until the 110th Session is over at the end of the year. |
| December 2008 | Wyoming | Dec 11-13: A resolution called the Horse Industry Policy, is submitted by Wyoming State Rep. Sue Wallis, and former South Dakota State Rep. Dave Sigdestad, to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Agriculture and Energy Committee. | Resolution eventually passes. |
| December 2008 | 110th Congress 2nd Session | HR 6598 is not heard or voted on, so does not pass out of the House Ag Cmte. | HR 6598 – PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT OF 2008 “dies” in Cmte. The Bill had 124 co-sponsors. |
| December 2008 | 110th Congress, 2nd Session | All Sessions concluded, the 110th Congress adjourns. | All legislation left pending is dead, and no work carries forward. Bills must be re-introduced and started afresh. |
Compiled by Jane Allin
Fund for Horses 