This language removes funding for USDA horse slaughter inspectors at slaughterhouses and at US borders effective February 1, 2006. This ban is only temporary but it is a start in the right direction. Efforts to achieve more permanent solutions are underway.

Please Read these New Notices!

• Important Update by Karen Sussman.

• America's Effort to End Horse Slaughter.

• Important Actions for November, 2005.

This report was written by Karen Sussman, President, International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB).
October 24, 2005

Recently, Congress voted by an overwhelming majority for the Ensign (R-NV) /Byrd (D-WV) amendment that would end funding for USDA to inspect horse slaughter in the three foreign owned horse slaughter plants in the U.S. for fiscal year 2006 beginning on October 1st of this year. No slaughter can take place for human consumption when USDA is not involved and slaughter houses cannot hire their own inspectors. Although this is a circuitous route to end horse slaughter in our country, we were thrilled that it has received overwhelming votes and passed in both the House and Senate.

URGENT!!!

Word is coming that the Conference Committee is planning to delete this amendment from the Ag Bill in spite of its passing in both houses by an overwhelming majority. We cannot let this happen and we need your voice to be heard in Washington today and tomorrow. This certainly is NOT democracy in our country. The Conference Committee will be completing the final bill that coordinates the House with the Senate bill on Tuesday, October 25th.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call all the CONFEREES below even if they are not in the state that you reside and ask them to support the above amendment to stop the slaughter of horses in our country. Ask for the staff assistant who is working on the Agricultural bill. (Target deadline: 4:00 PM EST on Tuesday, 10/25.)

SAMPLE DISCUSSION:

If they voted for the amendment - I am calling regarding the Ensign/Byrd amendment that would stop the funding of USDA inspectors to inspect horse slaughter in the three "foreign" owned slaughter plants in our country. I wanted to express my heartfelt thank you to the (Senator or Representative's name) for voting in favor of this wonderful amendment that would stop the cruelty of horses in our country by ending slaughter. I do understand that possibly some factions on the Agricultural Conference Committee for the Ag Appropriation Bill are speaking about pulling this amendment out. I am hopeful that (Senator or Representative) will continue to fight for the support of this important amendment to save horses from this gruesome death. I am sure that the (Senator or Representative) knows that the majority of horse owners in the United States do not send their animals to slaughter but find a peaceful ending of their lives. (99%) Please let our voices be heard today. To pull the amendment certainly is counter to the principals of our great country that were based on the voice of the people. Please keep me apprised as to what happens in the Agricultural Conference Committee. I would like to follow this closely and help to preserve democracy in our country.

If they voted against the amendment: I am calling today regarding the Ensign/Bryd amendment in the Agricultural Appropriations Bill that would stop the funding for USDA inspectors and halt horse slaughter in our country for one year. I understand that (Senator or Representative's name) voted to allow horses to be slaughtered in our country. I am sure that if the (Senator or Representative) could view the actual slaughter of horses, that (his or her) opinion would be swayed. It has also come to my attention that this amendment could be pulled out of the Ag Appropriations Bill. I am calling today to urge (Senator or Representative) to keep the amendment in the bill as it was passed by an overwhelming majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives. I believe in the great democracy of this great country and I am hopeful that even if the (Senator or Representative) did not vote for this amendment that (he or she) would support it now. To do otherwise would destroy the faith and hope of all of us who truly believe that we live in the greatest country in the world - a real democracy. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.