Albuquerque NM & beyond: As expected, USDA has approved Valley Meat Co.'s horse slaughter plant application

From: American Wild Horses Preservation Campaign <contact@wildhorsepreservation.org>

Date: Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Subject: Horse slaughter is back

Liz,  We have bad news.  Today, as expected, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has approved a New Mexico horse slaughter plant's application to operate in that state. This marks the first time since 2006 that a horse slaughter plant has been approved to operate in the U.S. The plant will still have to clear state permitting hurdles before opening. Let there be no doubt that this is a real threat to all American horses -- both wild and domestic -- and we're going to have to band together in the coming weeks and months to make sure our laws better reflect the will of the people on this issue. Polls have found 80 percent of Americans want horse slaughter banned. We're encouraged by recent developments in Congress where language to defund USDA inspections of horse slaughter plants is in both the Senate and House versions of the FY2014 Agriculture Appropriations bill, thanks in part to AWHPC supporters who contacted their representatives on the relevant committees. But we need a long term solution to this problem which is why we've been advocating for the SAFE Act to ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and to prevent the transport of horses out of the US to slaughter plants in Canada and Mexico. If you have not done so yet, please contact your Senators and Congresspersons today to ask them to support the SAFE Act.  We'll keep you updated as we learn of any developments. -- The AWHPC Team American Wild Horse Preservation    The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign is dedicated to preserving American wild horses and burros in viable free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage.

USA: More Horse Slaughtering Permits Awaiting USDA Approval

Please be in touch with your representatives as you track the bills.

Horse Slaughter Update (excerpt from today's American Wild Horse Preservation News & Alerts) 

Good news on Capitol Hill this month as both the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittees included language in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget bills to defund USDA horse slaughter inspections. Without such inspections horse slaughter plants cannot operate in the U.S.. The langauge must still pass the full House and Senate. Special thanks to Senator Mary Landrieu (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) for leading the effort. Meanwhile, the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act  (H.R. 1094/S. 541) has picked up 112 co-sponsors in the House and 16 co-sponsors in the Senate. However, the good news on the Hill is tempered by today's expected announcement that the USDA will begin to issue permits to horse slaughter plants. Three plants -- in New Mexico, Iowa and Missouri - are awaiting USDA permits. If they receive the necessary federal permit and meet all state permitting requirements, the plants could begin operations this year until Congress passes the 2014 budget bill with the anti-horse slaughter restrictions. We will keep you updated about developments in this critically-important situation as we receive them. 

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My Senator (who has worked hard to ensure that our laws protect domesticated and wild animals) wrote me today:

Excerpt:
Federal law requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect all cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and horses that will be slaughtered for human consumption. With the passage of the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) and each year after, Congress has prohibited the use of federal funds for the inspection of horses for slaughter. Until recently, this has prevented horses from being slaughtered for human food in the United States. However, the ban did not prevent the transport of U.S. horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. 

This prohibition was not included in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (P.L. 112-55), which was enacted on November 18, 2011. 

At the present time, there are two slaughter facilities in the United States that have inspection applications pending with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Agriculture Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 5973) included a provision to reinstate the ban, but this legislation was not passed by the U.S. House of Representatives before the 112thCongress adjourned.

The Safeguard American Food Exports Act (SAFE Act), S. 541, was introduced by Senator Landrieu on March 12, 2013. If enacted, this legislation would ban horse slaughter in the United States as well as banning the transportation of horses abroad for slaughter. This legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions where it awaits further action.