Similar Bill obtained 237 cosponsors in the 116th Congress

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, May 19, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Today, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., introduced the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. The legislation would prohibit the sale and transport of equines for slaughter, effectively preventing horse slaughter plants from operating in the U.S. and cracking down on the export of horses across the border to Mexico and Canada for this purpose.

“America was built on the backs of horses and they deserve better than to be shot in the head with a bolt and served up as slabs of meat on foreign dinner plates,” said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action who was recently honored by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, II for his work to protect horses. “Anti-horse slaughter legislation passed the U.S. House more than a decade ago and the 117th Congress should move the SAFE Act quickly to a vote.”

“Horses occupy a special place in American history and culture, and that is reflected in broad public opposition to slaughtering them for human consumption,” said Scott Beckstead, director of campaigns at the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action. “We are grateful to Representatives Schakowsky and Buchanan for introducing legislation to protect our iconic equines from the predatory horse slaughter industry.”

Tens of thousands of horses are exported for slaughter each year, and every aspect is fraught with suffering for the horses that fall victim to this predatory industry. “Kill buyers” gather horses to cram into their trucks, usually from auctions or individuals seeking to rehome or sell their horse, and they often misrepresent their true intentions. The horses are then often transported for over 24 hours without food, water, or rest. At the slaughter plant, their suffering may intensify as these terrified animals are known to endure multiple blows to the head in attempts to render them unconscious. Polling shows that public opinion falls solidly in favor of banning the practice.

“For centuries, horses have embodied the spirit of American freedom and pride,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. “They are our companions, work partners, entertainers, and athletes. With such a special place in our nation’s history it’s beyond time that we end the brutal practice of slaughtering these majestic creatures as food for humans. I am proud to reintroduce the SAFE Act with Congressman Buchanan and offer legislation that will finally close a loophole to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption, both domestically and abroad.”

“The slaughter of horses for human consumption is a barbaric practice that has no place in America,” said Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. “I look forward to continuing to lead the effort with Congresswoman Schakowsky to ban domestic horse slaughter and end the export of horses abroad for the same purpose.”

Horses are not raised as food animals in the U.S., and they receive a number of medications and other drugs that make them unfit for human consumption. The SAFE Act also prevents millions of taxpayer dollars from being wasted to enable plants to operate in the U.S.

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) intend to introduce a similar bill in the Senate soon.

Animal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that’s why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don’t. We believe helping animals helps us all.

The Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiver. We are advocates for getting veterinarians to the front lines of the animal welfare movement; promoting responsible pet ownership; and vaccinating animals against infectious diseases such as distemper. We also support policies that prevent animal cruelty and that alleviate suffering. We believe helping animals helps us all.

The Center for a Humane Economy (“the Center”) is a non-profit organization that focuses on influencing the conduct of corporations to forge a humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both.

Marty Irby
Animal Wellness Action
+1 202-821-5686
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