Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 1:54 AM
Subject: Subcommittee News (Horse Slaughter ban likely to be stripped in recess)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051026/pl_nm/food_congress_usda_dc_1


Lawmakers vote to allow privatizing US food stamps
By Charles Abbott Tue Oct 25, 9:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House and Senate negotiators working on a $100 billion agriculture spending bill voted on Tuesday to allow states to privatize the food stamp program, which helps 25 million people put food on the table monthly.

When they adjourned for the night, negotiators had yet to vote on a House proposal to delay for two years a requirement for foodmakers to put country-of-origin labels on red meat.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (news, bio, voting record), Louisiana Democrat, said she believed panel leaders would use the recess to strip out language banning federal inspection of horse slaughter. Proponents say the ban would save 100,000 horses a year from being killed to provide horsemeat for diners overseas.

The so-called conference committee has the chore of writing a final, compromise version of bills passed by the House and Senate to fund the Agriculture Department and related agencies this fiscal year. The compromise bill then will be presented to each chamber for passage with no amendments allowed.

Although Senate negotiators voted 9-8 to erect barriers to letting private firms take over food-stamp office work, the House side rejected the idea, 9-6. Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record), Iowa Democrat, said the vote effectively killed his idea of preventing privatization without proof the change would work.

Texas has requested permission to privatize food stamps as part of an overhaul of its welfare programs. Antihunger activists say Texas wants to close dozens of local offices and do more of the work by telephone, aided by thousands of hours of donated labor from charities and other volunteer groups.

"How many poor people are going to go on the Internet to apply for food stamps?" asked Harkin in arguing that relying on call centers or electronic applications would discourage participation.

Rep. Jack Kingston (news, bio, voting record), Georgia Republican, said the government should encourage experiments that could streamline service and save money.

Montana Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record) said he would try to keep on track a law that requires country-of-origin labels on red meat beginning in late 2006. The House, which delayed mandatory labels once before, wants a two-year delay, which would make meat labeling a potential issue for the 2007 update of U.S. farm subsidy law.

"I say it's the law. Write the rule and let it go forward," said Burns, a Montanan.

Both chambers voted earlier this year to withdraw federal inspection of horse slaughter, which would prevent sale of the meat for human consumption. Rep. Henry Bonilla (news, bio, voting record), Texas Republican and chairman of the negotiating committee, refused to give Landrieu assurance the provision would stay in the bill.

"If you have the votes to overturn (it) ... I would ask my colleagues to be brave enough to do it in public," said Landrieu. Afterward, she pointed to the possibility the ban would be removed "in the middle of the night."

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of horse people, the ban has survived, although it has been delayed for 120 days. Rumors that additional language may allow private inspectors to be hired to circumvent the measure have been dispelled by the USDA office of General Council.

The permanent ban may come to a vote before long. It is HR503 in the House and S-1915 in the Senate.

Here is an article from the Thouroughbred Times.
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http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=58698&subsec=1

Posted: 11/3/2005 3:39:00 PM ET

U.S. Senate passes slaughter amendment bill

The 2006 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, including an amendment to
withdraw federal funding for mandated United States Department of
Agriculture meat inspectors at the three remaining horse slaughterhouses
in America and also at the Mexican and Canadian borders, was passed by
the U.S. Senate by a margin of 81-18 on Thursday.

Following the passage by the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of
318-63 on October 29, the bill now goes to President George W. Bush, who
is expected to sign it within the next two weeks.

Funds for the meat inspectors will end 120 days after Bush signs the
bill and be effective through the end of the 2006 fiscal year, September
30, 2006.

An amendment to remove the funding for the entire fiscal year, which
began on October 1, was passed by the House of Representatives on June 8
and by the Senate on September 20, but was modified behind closed doors
by a joint Congressional conference committee.

"Regardless, this is a very important victory," U.S. Representative Ed
Whitfield (R-Kentucky), a leader in the horse anti-slaughter movement,
said on Thursday. "We are one step closer to ending horse slaughter in
the U.S."

Whitfield is a co-sponsor of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention
Act, which would eliminate horse slaughter for human consumption
overseas and is presently before both Houses.—Bill Heller

Just wondering since the thoroughbred times and a Kentucky senator are in this ballpark now, if we can expect to see a rescue organization for the crippled three year thoroughbreds (a by product of the glorious business of racing two year olds) I see sell for slaughter at almost every auction I attend? Maybe the broodmares that don't produce winners? Geldings that can't run and are too mindless for other use? Just checking.

There currently are a few organizations dedicated to the rescue to TBs from racetracks for whatever the reason (injured, crippled, too slow, etc.). One such organizaiton is United Pegasus Foundation, headquarterd in Hemet, CA. Not only do thy rescue the unwanted TBs but they are also actively involved in the rescue of PMUs. Please check out their website and give them your support. I have adopted several rescued TBs from them and the horses are wonderful!

Yes, Ingrid, I am, though only slightly, familiar with some rescue sites in my area. That was not my point. The "cost" of these rescues amaze me. It would be much more cost effiecient to "rescue" these animals from the auction by attending and bidding another ten or twentyfive dollars, since the rescue costs I have been quoted per horse would purchase several needing homes/buyers there. Theorectically they are the same horses but noone seems to care unless those horses are pointed out to them by a "rescue" foundation.