Horse protection bill passes

Gail Vacca

Editor: On Tuesday, following the example of their colleagues in the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate voted 68-29 in favor of the Ensign-Byrd Amendment to bar federal funds from being used to facilitate horse slaughter. The House approved a companion measure on June 8 (269-158). It now goes before a conference committee where we expect the measure to be approved. Because the amendment was attached to an annual agricultural spending bill, it will only halt horse slaughter for one year beginning Oct. 1. However, the landslide victories in the House and Senate indicate strong support for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503) which would result in a permanent ban on slaughtering American horses. "The time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America," Ensign said. "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly in the West, and they deserve protection. As a senator and a veterinarian, I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals." Both Illinois senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama voted in favor of the amendment, as previously did 14 of 19 Illinois representatives. The House and Senate votes are truly an outstanding show of bipartisan support by our Illinois delegates on behalf of their respective constituencies, proving that our elected officials are indeed listening to the people of Illinois, and that we do in fact have a voice in Washington. We commend our Illinois delegates for standing with Illinois horse owners who have worked tirelessly along with Illinois humane groups, veterinarians, racetracks and horsemen's groups to protect our horses from the cruelties of horse slaughter, both at the state and federal levels. We are extremely proud of, and thankful to, both Senator Durbin and Senator Obama for recognizing the importance of this issue to the multi-billion dollar Illinois horse industry and for helping to protect the life-blood of our industry, the horses. The time has come to now move forward toward permanently protecting American horses - both wild and domestic - by passing the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, and we strongly urge senators Durbin and Obama, as well as all Illinois House delegation, to co-sponsor and work toward passage of this much-needed and long-overdue legislation. Gail Vacca Illinois Coordinator National Horse Protection Coalition DeKalb