Could FY13 Agriculture Appropriations Bill End Horse Slaughter In US Before It Begins?

One can only hope. An amendment may be offered to strip language prohibiting the USDA from spending American tax dollars to inspect horse slaughter facilities. This language, recently approved by the House Appropriations Committee, defunding USDA inspections of horse slaughter facilities and supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans, is vital to protecting American horses.

On the FY06 Agriculture Appropriations bill, Representatives John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt(D-SC), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) offered an amendment to eliminate federal funding for the inspection of horsemeat—an inspection that would be required if horses are to be slaughtered for human consumption. A similar amendment will again be offered by Representative Jim Moran(D-VA) in the House Appropriations Committee during its consideration of the FY13 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

The Moran amendment of the 2013 agriculture apropriation bill reads as follows:

Sec. 744. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel to-

(1) inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C 603)

(2) inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal Agriculture Improvemen and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104-127); or

(3) implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations

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