McCain Joins Race to End Horse Slaughter
Equestrian News Release

WASHINGTON – Senator John McCain (R-AZ) joined the race against horse slaughter by co-sponsoring legislation that would effectively ban the practice.

Also adding their support this week were Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Introduced by Senator John Ensign (R-NV), the only veterinarian in Congress, and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), S. 1915 now has 25 co-sponsors.

It companion bill, H.R. 503, recently had a run away victory in the House winning by a margin of 263-146. Two poison pen amendments designed to render the bill ineffective were soundly defeated.

"Time is not on our side to get S. 1915 moved out of Committee where it is currently being held until after the mid-term elections, and onto the floor for a vote." stated Vivian Farrell, President of the Int'l Fund for Horses. "For this legislation to have any chance of being successful, it is imperative we get a vote by the end of the year."

Groups such as the Int'l Fund for Horses together with horse lovers, owners and industry representatives from around the country are lobbying hard to achieve this. "We have never been in a stronger position to get horse slaughter banned," Farrell added. "This latest show of support has given us a much-needed boost in the right direction."

Meanwhile, the gross suffering of American horses continues.

According to data released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the weeks ending August 26 and September 2, 2006, slaughter plants killed more horses than any other week in over a decade. Butchering 2,456 and 2,520 horses for human consumption, respectively, these killings represent a 30 percent increase over the 2006 weekly average and the bloodiest week since November 1994.

Photo: Senator John McCain