Editor's Note: The following is reprinted from the American Horse Council (www.horsecouncil.org)
On September 19, 2011, Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) introduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R.2966). The bill would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption. A Senate version of this bill S.1176 was introduced in June by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA). The House and Senate bills are identical.
This bill would amend the Horse Protection Act (HPA), which was enacted in 1970 to prohibit the showing, transport or sale of horses that have been subjected to any painful process to accentuate their gait. The Animal & Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture enforces the HPA.
The bill would prohibit the shipping, transporting, or sale of horses for slaughter for human consumption. Such activities would be a violation of the HPA and subject any person who knowingly violates the Act to penalties of up to $3,000 and/or one year in jail for the first offense and up to $5,000 and/or two years in jail for a second offense. An offender may also be subject to civil penalties of $2,000 for each violation.
The bill authorizes $5 million for enforcement.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and has 56 co-sponsors.