(*)
Includes the full text of bills
($) Includes estimated cost of bill
Restore
Our American Mustangs Act Bill Number:S. 1579 Short Title:
Restore Our American Mustangs Act Official
Title: A bill to amend the Wild
Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to improve the
management and long-term health of wild free-roaming
horses and burros, and for other purposes.
Bill Sponsors:
Senator Robert Byrd (D, WV)
Bill Status:
Introduced: 8/5/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources.
Prevention
of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 Bill Number:S.
727 Short Title:
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 Official
Title: A bill to amend title 18, United States
Code, to prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of
horses for human consumption.
Bill Sponsors:
Sen. Mary Landrieu
(D, LA)
Bill Status:
Introduced: 3/26/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3925-3926)
If you
Oppose Criminalizing Horse Meat
consider
signing a petition created by Support Animal
Agriculture & Oppose Criminalizing Horse Meat
. In addition to adding
your name to the petition, you are also able to send a
message to your
U.S. Senators and Representative, either via email (no
cost), or in the form of a letter (@ $3).
Conyers-Burton Prevention
of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 Bill Number:
H.R. 503 Short Title:Prevention of Equine
Cruelty Act of 2009 Official Title:
To amend title 18, United States Code, to
prohibit certain conduct relating to the use of horses
for human consumption.
Bill Sponsors: Rep.
John Conyers (D-MI),
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) Bill Status: Introduced: 1/14/2009 Referred to the House Committee on the
Judiciary: 1/14/2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and
Homeland Security: 3/16/09
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009: Amends
the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison
term of up to three years for possessing, shipping,
transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering, or
receiving any horse, horse flesh, or carcass with the
intent that it be used for human consumption. Reduces
the prison term to one year if the offense involves less
than five horses or less than 2,000 pounds of horse
flesh or carcass and the offender has no prior
conviction for this offense.
If you
Oppose Criminalizing Horse Meat
consider
signing a petition created by Support Animal
Agriculture & Oppose Criminalizing Horse Meat
. In addition to adding
your name to the petition, you are also able to send a
message to your
U.S. Senators and Representative, either via email (no
cost), or in the form of a letter (@ $3).
Horse Transportation Safety Act of
2009
Bill Number: H.R. 305 Short
Title: Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009
Official Title: To amend title 49, United States
Code, to prohibit the transportation of horses in
interstate transportation in a motor vehicle containing
2 or more levels stacked on top of one another.
Bill Sponsor:Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) Bill Status:
Introduced: 1/8/09 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and
Transit: 1/8/09
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure: 1/8/09
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure (CR E42):
1/8/09
Wild Horse and Burro Act
Bill Number: H.R.
1018 Official Title: To amend the Wild
Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to improve the
management and long-term health of wild free-roaming
horses and burros, and for other purposes.
Bill Sponsor: Representative
Rahall (D-WV) Bill Status: Introduced: 2/12/2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E256):
2/12/2009
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources:
2/12/2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests
and Public Lands: 2/17/2009
Subcommittee Hearings Held: 3/3/09
House adopted the amendment in the nature of a
substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union: 7/17/09
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions in H.Res. 653, the
House proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the
Hastings (WA) amendment: 7/17/09
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:
7/19/09
Amendments:
H.Amdt 358 Pass: An amendment printed in Part A of House
Report 111-212 to broaden the types of fertility
controls authorized under the bill, narrows the
definition of prohibited `commercial' uses for wild
horses and burros and clarifies the membership of the
Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Council; relaxes the
requirement that the acreage available to wild horses
and burros never be less than when the original Act
passed in 1971; and the amendment makes restoration of
the acreage a goal, rather than a requirement.
H.Amdt 359 Offered: An amendment in the nature of a
substitute printed in Part B of House Report 111-212 is
identical to the text of the wild horses and burros bill
as passed by the House in the 110th Congress. It
prohibits the commercial slaughter of horses and
estimated by CBO to cost less than $500,000 a year to
implement.
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act amends
the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to revise
provisions concerning the management of such animals.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior (for Bureau of
Land Management- [BLM] administered lands) or the
Secretary of Agriculture (for Forest
Service-administered lands) to:
(1) update the inventory of such animals annually and
make it publicly available on the BLM website;
(2) take specified actions to estimate populations of,
and establish management levels for, such animals;
(3) identify new rangelands, arrange for supervised
protection on private lands, and establish sanctuaries
or exclusive use areas for such animals;
(4) implement enhanced surgical or immunocontraception
sterilization or other safe methods of fertility
control;
(5) exhaust all practicable options of maintaining horse
and burro populations in the range before providing for
the capture and removal of excess animals for private
maintenance;
(6) take specified actions to promote the adoption
program;
(7) temporarily remove horses or burros from the range
if their immediate health or safety is threatened; and
(8) provide specified public information on animal
removals, range changes, and treatment. Requires
adopters of horses and burros to affirm that adopted
animals will not be slaughtered for human consumption.
Prohibits:
(1) the use of helicopters or other airborne devices to
remove such animals;
(2) containing such animals in holding facilities for
more than six months while awaiting disposition; or
(3) the destruction of such an animal unless the
Secretary determines it is terminally ill.
Expands the membership of the advisory board on the
management and protection of such animals.
Applies criminal penalties to any person who transports
a live or deceased horse or burro for processing into
commercial products.
Sets forth new reporting requirements on the management
of such animals.
2010 State & Federal Legislative News
7/10/10 Maine:
New horse advocacy group to meet Wednesday: Recently
formed based on recommendations from Legislative Task
Force on Equine Welfare, alliance is dedicated to saving
horses from abuse, abandonment and neglect, and helping
horse-owners who are struggling to provide for animals.
7/9/10 Florida:
U.S. Rep. Rooney, sons tour Palm City horse rescue
facility: Talked
about Horse Slaughter Prohibition bill, which prohibits
the donation or sale of horses to be slaughtered for
human consumption, which was passed in the house. A vote
by the Senate is pending.
All 10 horses at the
15-acre, 20-stall barn sanctuary receive round-the-clock
medical care by veterinarians and staff; tended to by a
slew of local volunteers until they are adopted out to
loving families.
6/22/10 TheHorse.com:
Proposed Canadian bill could halt U.S. slaughter exports:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency show 56 percent of
93,812 horses processed in 2009 were from U.S. C-544
introduced into House of Commons on June 16 would amend
Canadian Health of Animals Act to forbid import and
transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption.
Beginning July 31, horses processed in Canada must be
proven free of three drugs for their meat to qualify for
entry into EU.
5/18/10 TheHorse.com /
Florida:
Florida anti-slaughter bill becomes law: Anyone
who slaughters a horse and sells its meat for human
consumption in state now faces criminal felony charges
under measure signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist on
May 14.
5/17/10 TheHorse.com /
Missouri:
Slaughter language slashed from Missouri bill:
Language that would have established regulations and
fees for horse processing operations in Missouri removed
from omnibus agriculture bill passed by Senate. Despite
demise of HB 1747, sponsor Rep. Jim Viebrock said horse
processing legislation may be introduced during
Missouri's next legislative session.
5/15/10 AVMA:
Mexico, Canada increase horse slaughter production.
Nine states take sides on the
issue:According to USDA figures released in
March, 88,276 horses were slaughtered in North America
during 2009, a decrease of 38 percent from the decade
high of 140,911 horses processed in 2007.
As of mid-April, Idaho, Wyoming, and South Dakota have
adopted bills or resolutions relating to issue while six
other states continued to consider their own pro- or
anti-horse-slaughter legislation:
California Joint Resolution 22
Florida H.B. 765 and S.B. 1708
Idaho S.B. 1316 and Idaho Joint Resolution 104
Illinois H.B. 4812; Illinois House Resolution 1022; and
Illinois House Resolution 1058
Kentucky Concurrent Resolution 47
Missouri H.B. 1747
Oklahoma Concurrent Resolution 1045
South Dakota Concurrent Resolution 1003; SD S.B. 151;
and SD Concurrent Resolution 4
Wyoming H.B. 122
5/13/10 Missouri:
Horse slaughtering removed from agriculture bill:
Since slaughtering
horse meat for human consumption remains legal in US,
bill sought to create a state-level fund for
slaughterhouses to pay into to fund U.S. Department of
Agriculture inspections of the facilities.
4/27/10 Tennessee:
Horse slaughter bill heads to summer study:
Bill to pave way for horse
slaughter operations in Tennessee on hold for another
year. Will most likely be approved for summer study.
4/23/10 Washington D.C.:
Animal welfare legislation introduced into Congress:
According to
sponsoring Representatives, HR 4733 designed to promote
the well-being of farm animals by requiring federal
agencies to procure food products derived from animals
that were raised under conditions free from cruelty and
abuse.
4/12/10 Kentucky:
Equine Welfare HB398
signed by Governor:Create new sections
of KRS Chapter 230 to establish the Kentucky Equine
Health and Welfare Board; define "board" and "equine";
attach the board to the Environmental and Public
Protection Cabinet; specify board membership and terms
of service; set out duties and functions of the board;
require annual reporting; establish the equine health
and welfare fund.
3/31/10 TheHorse.com / Tennessee:
Tennessee livestock cruelty bill fails:
HB 3386died in House Ag Committee.
Would have made
cruelty to horses and other livestock a felony and
authorized courts to order those charged to forfeit
animals. Introduced in response to seizure of 84 horses
in November.
3/30/10 Missouri:
House OKs horse slaughtering bill: Missouri
House endorsed legislation designed to allow slaughter
of horses for human consumption. Legislation intended to
get around federal ban on meat inspectors working in
horse slaughtering plants.
3/29/10 Kentucky:
Bill to deal with stray horses goes to Beshear:
HB 251, designed to help local governments deal with
stray and abandoned horses received final approval in
House; goes to governor.
3/29/10 Missouri: House endorsed HB1747 that would
allow slaughter of horses for human consumption.
3/17/10 TheHorse.com /
Tennessee:
Tennessee lawmakers seek felony charges for horse
cruelty:
HB 3386 amends Tennessee's aggravated cruelty to
animals statute to include horses and other livestock;
current law applies to companion animals only. Bill also
authorizes courts to order those charged under the law
to forfeit their animals.
3/10/10 Kentucky:
Senate approves stray horse bill: HB251
would help local governments deal with stray
and abandoned horses. Establishes process under
which horses could be taken in, with a three-month
period for the owner to reclaim an animal. If an owner
did reclaim a horse, the person who cared for it would
be reimbursed.
3/10/10 Wyoming:
Wyoming Governor signs legislation for option of
processing to deal with abandoned horses:
HB 122-Disposal of Livestock provides Wyoming Board of
Livestock three options to deal with abandoned, estray,
feral, or abused animals which come under their control:
taking animal to a public sale (the only alternative
before passage of legislation); sending animal to
slaughter; destroying animal.
3/8/10 Oklahoma:
Oklahoma representatives approve animal husbandry bill:
Defines animal husbandry as the branch of agriculture
and animal science concerned with the care, breeding and
management of bovine, caprine, equine, porcine, poultry
and other farm animals. Moves on to senate.
3/4/10 South Dakota:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4: Opposing
certain federal legislation related to equine slaughter
and processing and urging the reinstatement and funding
of federal inspection programs governing equine
slaughter and processing facilities. Adopted by the
Senate, March 2, 2010. Concurred in by the House of
Representatives, March 4, 2010.
3/3/10 Illinois:
IL House to examine horse slaughtering bill:
More
cases of abandoned horses
turning up; rescues turning animals away. Legislation
introduced to reopen Cavel passed ag committee
unanimously, will be taken up by House.
(video)
2/16/10 West Virginia:
HB 420 Passed - A Bill to amend the Code
of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a
new article, designated §19-1C-1, §19-1C-2, §19-1C-3,
§19-1C-4, §19-1C-5 and §19-1C-6, all relating to
establishing the Livestock Care Standards Board;
defining terms; specifying conditions of membership and
the qualifications, terms and compensation of members;
authoring legislative rulemaking; and providing for
meetings of the board.
2/25/10 Idaho:
Animal cruelty law moves forward:
S1317 introduced by Senator Tim Corder would
overhaul Idaho's animal cruelty law and help protect
livestock production from animal activist groups.
2/24/10 California:
California introduces animal abuse registry bill:
Would
require animal abusers to list themselves in registry,
as currently done with sex offenders and arsonists,
helping ensure animals are not being adopted out to
convicted abusers.
2/24/10 Minnesota:
'Nip/Tuck' star has a beef with Franken over horses:
Kelly Carlson and other celebrities on Hill
lobbying against human consumption of horse meat.
Unhappy with Franken's stance on the legislation.
2/23/10 Illinois:
Horse slaughter measure clears first Statehouse hurdle:
Rep. Jim Sacia sponsoring initiative since the state’s
2007 ban on practice has raised problems concerning
inhumane treatment of unwanted horses. Sacia “We can
document untold numbers of abandoned starving horses.
That absolutely is occurring for one reason and one
reason only and that is we do not allow humane
slaughtering of horses in the United States today.”
2/22/10 Idaho: Idaho
Senate approves Senate Joint Memorial 104:
Stating findings of the Legislature and urging
Congress to oppose federal legislation that interferes
with a state's ability to direct the transport or
processing of horses and encouraging Congress to
discontinue language in the yearly appropriations bills
that has effectively ended processing of horses in the
United States.
2/21/10 Idaho: Idaho
Legislature considers horse slaughter bill:Responding to
horse abandonment in state, senate passes joint memorial
to Congress urging discontinuation of prohibition of
funding for federal inspectors; further prohibiting USDA
from charging a user fee for such inspections.
2/18/10 Kentucky:
Veterinarians seek equine welfare board: Georgetown Thoroughbred retirement facility has 90
horses, receives three to five calls/wk from people
seeking homes for horses.
2/10/10 California:
Bill No. SJR 22 Introduced by Senator Florez:
This measure would memorialize the Congress to support
federal legislation to protect American horses from
slaughter for human consumption.
Bill Summary:
Repeals a provision that prohibits the slaughter of
horses for human consumption. Creates the Equine
Rescue Assistance Fund. Requires certain facilities
to collect a $25 fee for each slaughtered horse and
to remit those sums to the Department of Agriculture
for deposit into the Equine Rescue Assistance Fund.
Requires the Department to create and administer an
Equine Rescue Assistance Program to make grants to
qualified equine rescue organizations for the
expansion of equine rescue facilities and for the
care and maintenance of rescued horses.
1/23/10 Montana:
Judge denies horse advocates’ appeal: Ruling
issued by Interior Board of Land Appeals clears way for
BLM's 2009 horse management plan for Pryor Mountain Wild
Horse Range. Until appeal overturned, agency required to
work under old plan. New plan calls for “guzzlers” to
capture rainwater for drinking, spreading horses across
range and lessening damage to wetter areas.
1/21/10 South Dakota:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 1003:
Supporting the reintrodution of horse slaughter and
processing operations in the United Sates.
1/12/09 Missouri:
Viebrock backs bill for horse slaughterhouses:
Lawmaker wants to make slaughtering of horses for human
consumption legal in Missouri. Idea has support of state
Agriculture Department Director. Equine vet says current
crisis situation caused by people who didn't think
slaughter ban through. ASPCA spokesperson says problem
isn't that big.
1/11/10 Nebraska:
Bill would rewrite Neb. livestock-cruelty rules:
Changes largely clerical, dealing with
livestock welfare as compared to pets. Doesn't add new
rules or change penalties, is designed to reduce
confusion. Bill would move all livestock rules to a
separate area of the law.
2009 State & Federal Legislative News
12/24/09
Obama asked to halt wild-horse roundup in Nevada:
Sheryl Crow and other wild-horse advocates
called on President Obama and Harry Reid to block
mustang roundup after federal judge denied request to
block gather. Judge says opponents failed to demonstrate
removal violated federal law. Singer campaigned for both
Obama and Reid. BLM says population is three times what
range can handle. State's wildlife agency sides with BLM,
noting mustangs have severely degraded range and
adversely affected native wildlife.
12/22/09 South Dakota:
Horse ownership inspections to continue, Brand Board
says: Members informally decided they won’t
ask 2010 Legislature to repeal law that requires
ownership inspections of mules and horses in western
South Dakota. Brand Board liable for cost of animals
found abandoned, which need to be kept as strays. Often
nowhere to sell them because of horse slaughter
prohibitions.
12/18/09 North Dakota:
Bismarck woman lobbies for animals: Won the
“There oughta be a law” ontest sponsored by the Humane
Society Legislative Fund. Her idea: Give everybody a tax
break or tax credit, if they spay or neuter their pets.
12/17/09 Washington:
Judge asked to block wild horse roundup:
Animal protection group asked federal judge to block a
plan to round up about 2,500 wild horses to remove them
from a Nevada range.
12/14/09 Nevada:
BLM approves Nevada wild horse roundup: BLM
approved removal of 2,500 wild horses from range near
Reno on Monday. Federal judge to hear arguments on
Wednesday in lawsuit filed to block roundup later this
month. BLM says removal needed to bring population
numbers down to prevent habitat deterioration. Mustang
advocates counter animals are traumatized, injured or
killed.
10/27/09 TheHorse.com:
Government to study unwanted horse issues:
Bill signed into law on Oct. 21 tasking
Government Accountability Office with examining how
horse processing plant closures have affected equine
welfare. Study ordered by U.S. Senate Appropriations'
Committee; due March 2010.
10/2/09 Nebraska:
State lawmakers want to resolve horse
dilemma: State's Agriculture Committee
working on solution to increasing numbers of horses in
state that are falling into neglected, unwanted and
abandoned categories.
Fillmore County dealing with 35 horses confiscated in
July. Five have died; county has spent nearly $7,500
caring for herd. Heated barn needed for winter for at
least seven.
8/2/09 Michigan:
Michigan House committee passes livestock
care measure: House Agriculture
Committee passed H.B. 5127 and H.B. 5128, bringing
comprehensive standards for farm animal care one step
closer to law in the state. Controversial bills, which
closely mirror proposed November ballot question in
Ohio, have animal rights
activists and agriculture at odds.
7/29/09 FOX News:
Critics worry measure to save wild horses is taxpayer
drain: Taxpayers could be on hook for
$700 million if measure to put wild horses back home on
the range passes Congress. Bill would provide millions
for contraception, rounding up thousands of animals each
year for castration and even birth control pills.
Congressional Budget Office estimated cost at $200
million over next five years, up to $500 million after
2013 to secure land.
7/21/09 Wyoming:
Barrasso, Lummis oppose House's wild horse bill:
Bill would restrict the government from killing healthy
wild horses and burros; would give government authority
to enter into cooperative agreements to establish wild
horse sanctuaries on nonfederal lands. Congressional
Budget Office estimates enacting bill would cost up to
$700 million. Barrasso: government shouldn't spend
$700 million on wild horses while the nation is in debt.
Lummis: bill would worsen Wyoming's grass resources and
require more money to repair damage left by wild horses
and burros in the state.
7/19/09 Washington:
Is 700 million dollar wild horse bill justified?
Congressman Louie Gohmert, East Texas, speaks out
against wild horse welfare bill, which would provide 700
million dollars for Restore Our American Mustangs Act.
(video)
7/18/09 Oregon:
Groups push to slaughter horses for meat, possibly
starting in Oregon: Efforts underscore a
rural-urban divide and desperate state of America's
horse industry. Steep decline in horse prices,
overgrazing on Native American reservations, and
incidents of horse abandonment and neglect, among other
problems.
7/17/09 Washington:
Room to roam: House votes to protect wild horses:
House voted Friday to rescue them from the possibility
of a government-sponsored slaughter and give them
millions more acres to roam. No comparable bill
sponsored in Senate. Both houses have to approve
legislation before it could be sent to President Obama
for consideration.
7/13/09 Tri-State
Livestock News:
GAO study on effects of horse slaughter
ban called for by Senate Committee:
Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday directed the
General Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an
investigation into the impact that banning U.S. horse
slaughter has had on the welfare of horses.
6/29/09 New York:
Lawmakers, racing leaders to meet on horse abuse
punishment: Under current state law,
equine animal cruelty a misdemeanor, and does not fall
under “Buster’s Law,” legislation that makes cruelty
toward cats and dogs a felony.
6/26/09 Drovers:
American Indians support horse slaughter:
National Congress of American Indians has passed
a resolution expressing tribes' views in regards to
federal interference with their ability to sustainably
manage horses on tribal lands, and supporting the
reopening of US processing facilities.
6/25/09 Ohio:
Constitutional amendment on animal care backed by Ohio
lawmakers: Would pull together best
expertise and operate in full public view. Humane
Society of the United
States
said amendment would thwart meaningful reform in housing
of farm animals and is a constitutional power grab on
behalf of big agribusiness.
6/17/09
QuarterHorseNews.com:
Eight of 13 states pass horse processing bills:
Legislators in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, South
Dakota, Utah and Wyoming approved measures urging
Congress not to enact a nationwide ban on processing
horses for human consumption.
5/11/09 Oregon:
BLM's plan to corral more wild horses draws criticism:
BLM soliciting bids for facilities that would
together hold up to 6,000 mustangs because existing ones
are full. Accountability Office report said BLM this
year will spend about $27 million caring for the
animals. Continuing current practices would require a
budget of $58 million next year, escalating to $77
million in 2012.
3/7/09 New Mexico:
Number of abandoned horses
increasing in New Mexico: Legislative
director for Animal Protection of New Mexico: "In no
means do we intend to house and shelter all the unwanted
horses. That simply is not a viable solution." State's
six licensed equine shelters are near capacity. Those
not at physical capacity are at financial capacity.
Number of emergency equine calls to New Mexico Livestock
Board tripled from 41 in 2007 to more than 134 in 2008.
