Horse Roundup

Today I received a news release from HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States) concerning the Rahall-Whitfield Amendment to End Wild Horse Slaughter (Wild horses on government property are rounded up and sent to meat processing plants). Below is a 'snip' from the release and the link to the HSUS site.

"Wild horses, a beloved and cherished symbol of our nation's
heritage, have been protected from sale and slaughter for over 30 years. However, a stealth amendment -- snuck into a massive budget bill at the end of last year -- has allowed these horses to be commercially sold once again.

In recent weeks, at least 41 wild mustangs were sold by the
government and then, within days, resold to an Illinois
slaughterhouse. We cannot let this continue.

Congress will be considering the Rahall-Whitfield amendment to ensure that tax dollars are never used for sales of wild horses that could lead to their slaughter. This week, when this amendment is being considered, we must reach every single member of the U.S. House of Representatives and secure their votes for the Rahall-Whitfield amendment.

:: TAKE ACTION -- Contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to vote YES on the Rahall-Whitfield amendment."

Here is the link to the HSUS site. The "Bucking the System" story is on the first page center.

Time is of the essence on this because this amendment is going up for a vote this Thursday, May 19th.

Your assistance and participation in this matter is appreciated.

4dogknight

Somebody on a board was saying Bush is behind it. Not that I am trying to stir up a political rant, but is that true?

Johar - is Bush behind what? The roundup and slaughter of the horses or the Rahall-Whitfield Amendment?

I don't think it matters where the blame for the slaughter order is placed, what is important is that now we support this Amendment that will stop this madness.

After the above non-commital statement let me say that nowadays everthing is political because if it isn't initially, there are folks just waiting to make it so.

4dk

The Rahall-Whitfield Amendment. Supposedly the government can get money for the slaughter of these animals. Blech. Maybe humans should stop with the urban sprawl.

I remember as a kid reading about Wildhorse Annie in a Marguerite Henry (author of Misty, etc) who fought to have a ban on their slaughter made. And she won! :agree:

BTW, did you ever watcg the story of "Cloud" on PBS? A woman has been taping the life of a wildhorse. It's very interesting, with its sad and happy moments.

that's terrible!!!!! who wanted to pass that???!??!?!?!

Good news!

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The threat of a trip to the slaughterhouse will no longer haunt the wild horses roaming the Nation's public lands, as the U.S. House of Representatives tonight approved a measure to reinstate the Federal government's humane policy of protecting these animals from senseless death, declared U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV).

The amendment was championed by Rahall, the Ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), with the support of U.S. Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) and U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC). With the votes of 78 House Republicans, the amendment passed with 249 votes.

"The very notion that wild American horses would be slaughtered as a food source for foreign consumption abroad has struck a chord with the American people. Tonight, the people's House of Representatives acted on the will of its constituents," stated Rahall.

The bipartisan amendment prevents funds from being used by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to implement the rider attached to last December's omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2005 that allowed the sale for slaughter of wild horses. The rider overturned 34 years of federal policy protecting wild horses from the commercial sale for slaughter. Recently, 41 horses were sent to a slaughterhouse as a result of the change in the law.

In March, BLM Director Clarke testified before the Forest and Forest Health Subcommittee, "We have no legal authority to intervene after the animal is sold and a bill of sale is completed."

"We prayed that the new regulations would not lead to the slaughter of these animals. But the BLM had no legal recourse to stop those individuals who bought wild horses with evil intentions. This amendment addressed an urgent need for protection," concluded Rahall.

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Kristen Bossi
Press Secretary
House Committee on Resources
Democratic Staff
(202) 226-1736
http://www.house.gov/resources/democrats/