Anti-Slaughter Act Advances Thru House Subcommittee

Legislation that would ban horse slaughter advanced June 23 through a U.S. House Subcommittee within the Energy and Commerce Committee, according to various animal rights groups. The advancement puts it closer to action in the U.S. House and Senate.

The anti-slaughter bill, known as the SAFE Act, would permanently ban the transport of horses bound for slaughter. Equine slaughterhouses in the U.S. have been shuttered since 2007, but loopholes have allowed for the export of horses to slaughterhouses in foreign countries.

Attempts to pass similar anti-slaughter legislation have failed to clear both chambers of Congress in recent years.  

The legislation is backed by numerous animal rights groups and racing entities such as The Jockey Club, The Stronach Group, Breeders' Cup, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Jockeys' Guild, the New York Racing Association, and Del Mar.

According to the Humane Society, the SAFE Act currently has 218 sponsors in the legislature and received backing Thursday in the House Committee on Appropriations which could also prove decisive regarding horse slaughter. The bill contains a permanent defunding of inspections of domestic horse slaughter plants, which would prevent them from ever reopening on U.S. soil.

Also advancing Thursday was the Prevent All Soring Tactics, known as the PAST Act, which would prevent the unethical practice of soring in gaited horses in the show ring.