Voice Your Support

I am pleased to pass on the following email regarding the impending vote on H. R. 6598, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act by the House Judiciary Committee TODAY, Wednesday Sept. 10.

It is not too late to voice your support if you are reading this NOW.

The equine advocacy world lost a great champion in John Hettinger who recently passed away (Sept. 6) at the age of 74, Please take a moment to voice your support for this bill in his memory.


URGENT eALERT!!! CALLS NEEDED TODAY!!!
HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL UP FOR COMMITTEE VOTE


Dear Humanitarian:

AWI has learned that the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) will be voted on by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, September 10th. The bill, which was introduced in July by Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), will criminalize the slaughter of American horses. While the vast majority of Americans, the United States Congress and members of the House Judiciary Committee support an end to horse slaughter there are some members on the committee who are staunch supporters of horse slaughter and will attempt to kill the bill through subterfuge.

What You Can Do:

Call and/or email members of the House Judiciary Committee (see full list below) TODAY and ask them “to support passage of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) out of committee as introduced, with NO amendments”. Please also ask them “to cosponsor H.R. 6598 if they haven’t done so already.” Let them know that:

Every 5 Minutes an American horse is slaughtered for human consumption abroad. Visit www.every5minutes.org for the current number and to learn more about this industry.

Despite the closure of the country’s three remaining horse slaughter plants in 2007, tens of thousands of American horses continue to be slaughtered in Canada and Mexico in the absence of a strong US law banning prohibiting the trade.


Horse slaughter is not humane euthanasia; it is a brutal process during which horses suffer terribly from start to finish. Their trip to Mexico is often on double deck trailers where they are crammed with dozens of other horses for up to 30 hours without food, water or rest. Once in Mexico some slaughterhouses use a “puntilla” or knife to stab the horse to death. The entire process is extremely inhumane.

Despite claims to the contrary, horse slaughter is not a necessary evil through which sick, old and unwanted horses are humanely disposed of. The industry is a predatory one that actively seeks out marketable and healthy horses to be slaughtered at great profit.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 92% of horses going to slaughter are in good condition and could be placed in a new home. Those horses who are truly sick or old should be humanely euthanized on the spot by a licensed veterinarian.

Horsemeat is considered a delicacy in many European and Asian countries where it is consumed by high-end diners.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598) will end this cruel trade for good. Ending horse slaughter is a positive step in improving horse welfare in the US, which is why so many horse industry groups and leaders, veterinarians, humane organizations and equine rescues strongly support an end to horse slaughter.

Whether you contact your legislator by phone or email, please be sure to provide him or her with your name and mailing address, and if you are a constituent, request a response on this specific issue. Please also share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their legislators, too. As always, thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President
www.awionline.org
www.compassionindex.org

For over 57 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.



NOTE: Because of the urgency and limited time we encourage you to call each office and ask for their support. There is no need to contact Chairman Conyers or Representative Scott given their lead on the bill itself. * denotes that the member has a history of supporting measures to end horse slaughter. Bolded name denotes they are a current cosponsor of H.R. 6598.

Democrats

Republicans


The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., (MI)*
Chairman
Tel: 202-225-5126
Fax: 202-225-0072
Email: john.conyers@mail.house.gov
The Honorable Lamar Smith (TX)
Ranking Member
Tel: 202-225-4236
Fax: 202-225-8628
The Honorable Mark Berman (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-4695
Fax: 202-225-3196
Email: howard.berman@mail.house.gov
The Honorable Lamar Smith (TX)
Ranking Member
Tel: 202-225-4236
Fax: 202-225-8628

The Honorable Rick Boucher (VA)*
Tel: 202-225-3861
Fax: 202-225-0442
Email: ninthnet@mail.house.gov
The Honorable John Sensenbrenner (WI)
Tel: 202-225-5101
Fax: 202-225-3190
The Honorable Jerry Nadler (NY)*
Tel: 202-225-5635
Fax: 202-225-6923
The Honorable Howard Coble (NC)
Tel: 202-225-3065
Fax: 202-225-8611
Email: howard.coble@mail.house.gov

The Honorable Bobby Scott (VA)*
Tel: 202-225-8351
Fax: 202-225-8354
The Honorable Elton Gallegly (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-5811
Fax: 202-225-1100
The Honorable Melvin Watt (NC)*
Tel: 202-225-1510
Fax: 202-225-1512
The Honorable Bob Goodlatte (VA)
Tel: 202-225-5431
Fax: 202-225-9681
The Honorable Zoe Lofgren (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-3072
Fax: 202-225-3336
The Honorable Steve Chabot (OH)*
Tel: 202-225-2216
Fax: 202-225-3012
The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee (TX)*
Tel: 202-225-3816
Fax: 202-225-3317
The Honorable Dan Lungren (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-5716
Fax: 202-226-1298
The Honorable Maxine Waters (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-2201
Fax: 202-225-7854 The Honorable Chris Cannon (UT)
Tel: 202-225-7751
Fax: 202-225-5629
Email: cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov

The Honorable Jim Delahunt (MA)*
Tel: 202-225-3111
Fax: 202-225-5658
Email: william.delahunt@mail.house.gov
The Honorable Ric Keller (FL)*
Tel: 202-225-2176
Fax: 202-225-0999
The Honorable Robert Wexler (FL)*
Tel: 202-225-3001
Fax: 202-225-5974
The Honorable Darrell Issa (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-3906
Fax: 202-225-3303
The Honorable Linda Sanchez (CA)
Tel: 202-225-6676
Fax: 202-226-1012
The Honorable Mike Pence (IN)*
Tel: 202-225-3021
Fax: 202-225-3382
The Honorable Steve Cohen (TN)*
Tel: 202-225-3265
Fax: 202-225-5663
The Honorable Randy Forbes (VA)*
Tel: 202-225-6365
Fax: 202-226-1170
The Honorable Hank Johnson (GA)*
Tel: 202-225-1605
Fax: 202-226-0691
The Honorable Steve King (IA)
Tel: 202-225-4426
Fax: 202-225-3193
The Honorable Betty Sutton (OH)*
Tel: 202-225-3401
Fax: 202-225-2266
The Honorable Tom Feeney (FL)
Tel: 202-225-2706
Fax: 202-226-6299
The Honorable Gutierrez (IL)*
Tel: 202-225-8203
Fax: 202-225-7810
The Honorable Trent Franks (AZ)
Tel: 202-225-4576
Fax: 202-225-6328
The Honorable Brad Sherman (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-5911
Fax: 202-225-5879
The Honorable Louie Gohmert (TX)
Tel: 202-225-3035
Fax: 202-225-5866
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin (WI)*
Tel: 202-225-2906
Fax: 202-225-6942
The Honorable Jim Jordan (OH)
Tel: 202-225-2676
Fax: 202-226-0577
The Honorable Anthony Weiner (NY)*
Tel: 202-225-6616
Fax: 202-226-7253
Email: weiner@mail.house.gov

The Honorable Adam Schiff (CA)*
Tel: 202-225-4176
Fax: 202-225-5828

The Honorable Artur Davis (AL)*
Tel: 202-225-2665
Fax: 202-226-9567

The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL)*
Tel: 202-225-7931