2011 – Fund for Horses

Horse Slaughter Legislative Timeline 2011

DATE	VENUE	ACTIVITY	RESULT
January 2011	Legislative Assembly of N. Dakota	Jan 10: HB 1244, a bill allowing horses to be slaughtered for food with other animals and amending rules governing preparation of equine carcasses, introduced by Rep. M. Nelson. Referred to Ag Cmte. Jan 27: Passed Ag Cmte (12-0-2), placed on Calendar Jan 31: Passed House (90 Ayes, 0 Nays)	N. Dakota pro horse slaughter bill introduced, passes House and sent to Senate for action.
January 2011	Nebraska Unicameral Legislature	Jan 12: LB 305, a bill to establish state meat inspection program for horses (and other animals), introduced by Tyson Larson Jan 14: Referred to Ag Cmte Jan 24: Notice of Hearing for Feb 8th	Nebraska pro horse slaughter Bill introduced. Set for Hearing Feb. 8th.
January 2011	187th General Court of Massachusetts	Jan. 18: Bill S00655 banning the slaughter, procurement and transport of horses for human consumption introduced by State Sen. Stephen Brewer. Jan. 24: Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary; House concurs.	Massachusetts anti horse slaughter Bill introduced.
January 2011	New York State General Assembly	Jan. 25: A03504, a bill banning horse slaughter and transport for slaughter for human consumption introduced by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick. Referred to Ag Cmte.	New York State anti horse slaughter Bill re-introduced. A. Glick introduced this in 2004 and 2009. In each instance the bills were stalled and killed in Cmte by its Chairman MaGee, a “meat industry” politician.
February 2011	Legislative Assembly of N. Dakota	Feb 1: Senate receives HB 1244 (see Jan 10, 27 and 31 entries for details). Feb 21: 1st reading; referred to Ag Cmte. Cmte Hearing set for March 3rd.	N. Dakota pro horse slaughter Bill progresses to Senate; Ag Cmte Hrng set Mar. 3rd.
February 2011	Nebraska Unicameral Legislatue	Feb 8: LB 305, Statement of Intent entered, “This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to develop and implement a state meat and poultry inspection agency to inspect meat and meat products for human consumption in compliance with federal regulations by January 1, 2013.” Feb 23: LB 305 Placed on General File.	Nebraska pro horse slaughter Bill progresses.
May 2011	U.S. House of Representatives	May 30: The 2012 Agriculture Budget Bill is debated in the House Appropriations Committee, from which the measure defunding USDA inspections necessary to market horse meat was ripped out, paving the way for the return of horse slaughter to U.S. soil.	See below.
May 2011	U.S. House of Representatives	May 30: Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) offers an amendment to continue denying funding for the USDA inspections required to market horse meat.	The 2012 Agriculture Budget Bill is voted on in the House Appropriations Committee, passing by a margin of 24-21, with the Moran Amendment intact. The bill is sent to the full House for consideration.
June 2011	U.S. Senate	Jun 9, 2011: A bill entitled the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 — S. 1176 — is introduced (pdf) in the United States Senate, Thursday, June 9, 2011, by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) with 14 originating co-sponsors. S. 1176 amends the Horse Protection Act, making it illegal to transport horses for the purposes of slaughter, among other provisions.	S. 1176 is referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
September 2011	U.S. Senate	Sep. 9, 2011: The Senate Appropriations Committee approve a version of the U.S. Agriculture Appropriations Bill that no longer contains the ban on funding for horse meat inspections. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri and two colleagues with close ties to the beef industry, namely Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia and Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, in a secretive back door manouver altered the 2012 omnibus spending bill so it no longer banned funding for horse meat inspections.	If signed into law, this opens the possibility for return of horse slaughter to U.S. soil.
September 2011	US House of Representatives	Sept 19: HR 2966 — The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 — introduced by Rep. Dan Burton [R-IN-5]. Assigned to the Energy & Commerce and Agriculture Committees. Last Action: 10/04/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.	Died in Committee. It had 165 Co-Sponsors.
November 2011	U.S. Congress	Nov. 17, 2011: The Agriculture Appropriations Bill for 2012 [October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012] was passed by Congress and signed into law without the wording that prohibited horse meat inspections since 2006.	This potentially flings the door wide open for the return of horse slaughter to U.S. soil. horse slaughter. [1] [2]

— Go to 2012 Legislative Timeline »

FOOTNOTES

USDA stated that, although the limitation on FSIS inspection had been lifted, there were still significant regulatory obstacles to resurrecting horse slaughter in the United States. For example, any processing facility has to obtain a federal grant of inspection, conduct a hazard analysis, and develop a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan prior to the processing of any horses for human consumption. A facility in New Mexico—Valley Meats, Inc.—was granted a permit by USDA on June 28, 2013, to begin horse slaughter. USDA has stated that it would grant similar operating permits to plants in Iowa and Missouri in early July 2013. The New Mexico plant had sued USDA in February 2013, accusing it of intentionally delaying the approval process. Both the House (H.R. 2410) and Senate (S. 1244) 2014 Agriculture appropriations bills would again prohibit FSIS from inspecting horses under the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The Administration and USDA have also requested that the ban on horse slaughter continue. As discussed above, the provision had been included in Agriculture appropriations bills since 2008.

There has been a lot of talk in the past week about Congress’ lifting of the ban prohibiting federal funding for the inspection of horses, which prevented the slaughter of horses for human consumption for the past five years. The issue is understandably a sensitive and emotional one for everyone who loves these majestic animals, but it is important that the discussion be tempered with the facts.

While Congress has technically lifted the ban, horse processing will not resume anytime in the near term. Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, horses are an amenable species, which means that horse meat cannot be shipped or sold for human consumption without inspection.

To date, there have been no requests that the Department initiate the authorization process for any horse processing operation in the United States. In the two states where horse processing took place prior to the Congressional ban, Illinois and Texas, there are laws in place prohibiting the slaughter of horses. Even if these laws were changed, any processing facility will still need to satisfy a significant number of requirements, such as obtaining a federal grant of inspection, conducting a hazard analysis, and developing a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan prior to the processing of any animals.

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Contributors: Jane Allin, Vivian Farrell

GAO releases report on cessation of domestic horse slaughter

STATEMENT ARCHIVES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2011

WASHINGTON DC (June 22, 2011) — The U.S. Government Accountability Office released its report today on the impact of the cessation of domestic horse slaughter.

It is a 68-page report with a number of arguable points. However, the important sections to note are Conclusions and Matters for Congressional Consideration.

Matters for Congressional Consideration state:

“In light of the unintended consequences on horse welfare from the cessation of domestic horse slaughter, Congress may wish to reconsider the annual restrictions first instituted in fiscal year 2006 on USDA’s use of appropriated funds to inspect horses in transit to, and at, domestic slaughtering facilities. Specifically, to allow USDA to better ensure horse welfare and identify potential violations of the Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter regulation, Congress may wish to consider allowing USDA to again use appropriated funds to inspect U.S. horses being transported to slaughter. Also, Congress may wish to consider allowing USDA to again use appropriated funds to inspect horses at domestic slaughtering facilities, as authorized by the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Alternatively, Congress may wish to consider instituting an explicit ban on the domestic slaughter of horses and export of U.S. horses intended for slaughter in foreign countries.”

From a humane standpoint, an outright ban of the slaughter of America’s horses is clearly the right and only effective alternative.

From a practical standpoint, giving the USDA even more funding for horse slaughter related inspections will not achieve the desired effect, and therefore neither a sound or reasonable alternative.

When the U.S. is looking for ways to cut spending, not increase it, we see no benefit to horse welfare, the horse industry, or the nation’s economy in re-establishing USDA horse slaughter related inspections with or without the proposed enhanced funding.

An “explicit ban on the domestic slaughter of horses and export of U.S. horses intended for slaughter in foreign countries” is the only humane and viable option of the two presented in the GAO report.

VIEW THE REPORT
Report, PDF, 68 pp.

The Horse Fund is the most dynamic equine advocacy organization of its kind. Headquartered in the United States The Horse Fund protects horses at home and abroad by lobbying and acting as horse industry watchdogs.

©The Horse Fund 2019 Logo in Orange.

Tragedy and insensitivity overshadow Grand National as two horses die

STATEMENT ARCHIVES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2011

LIVERPOOL, England (April 10, 2011) — Insensitive BBC commentators continued to call the 2011 Grand National as two horses died in front of thousands of spectators and a worldwide television audience of 600 million.

Ornais fell at the fourth breaking his neck and Dooneys Gate fell at Becher’s Brook breaking his back during the first circuit.

Large green tarpaulins screened the bodies of the horses while Aintree staff flagged the jockeys on the second circuit, sending them away from the jumps where Ornais and Dooneys Gate now lay dead.

During the television re-run of the race following the finish, commentators still failed to mention the fatalities.

The public flooded social networking sites and message boards criticizing the BBC and expressing concern for the horses who run in the Grand National. Commenters on the Corporation’s website accused the BBC of covering up the tragedy, minimizing the deaths of the two horses.

A spokesman for the BBC stated they were “aware of the unfortunate events of the two fatalities” and “during the race and the re-run this was covered with as much sensitivity as possible.”

“Sensitive coverage of the deaths of Ornais and Dooneys Gate would have been to acknowledge the tragic event during the race and having an on-air moment of silence in honor of the fallen horses afterwards, not act as if it didn’t happen at all,” responds Vivian Grant Farrell, President of the U.S. based Int’l Fund for Horses and a native of Liverpool. “This type of behavior at a moment like this does nothing for the reputation of horse racing. Instead it signals a callous attitude concerning the lives of racehorses to all those watching.”

Only 19 of the 40 horses who started this year’s Grand National finished the race. The eventual winner, Ballabriggs, was too exhausted to be ridden into the winner’s enclosure. Stewards banned his jockey, Jason Maguire, for five days for excessive use of the whip.

“40 horses in the Grand National are 15 to 20 horses too many,” states Farrell. “A way to shield horses and jockeys from injury and death is to control the quantity and quality of the horses allowed to race.”

Saturday’s Grand National tragedies follow the death of Inventor on Thursday, the first day of the Aintree meeting, adding to the growing list of casualties at the famous Liverpool racecourse.

Four horses were killed at the three-day Aintree meeting last year, and five in 2009. Since 2000, a staggering 33 horses have died at the Aintree spring festival amid increasing protests from animal welfare groups.

The Grand National held at Aintree racecourse is considered the greatest steeplechase in the world. A test for both horse and jockey, the Grand National is run over 4 miles and 4 furlongs with 30 testing fences in 2 circuits.

Three Number Signs Separator #CC6600

SOURCES

“BBC attacked for ‘covering up’ Grand National deaths”, by Jasper Copping, The Telegraph, Apr. 9, 2011, http://tiny.cc/uzqyb

“Aintree day of horror as TV audience of millions see two horses die at the National”, by Stephen Davies, The Daily Mail, Apr. 10, 2011, http://tiny.cc/za4gg

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