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Posted by Connie Folks, YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED! September 23, 2005 Dear Humanitarian: GREAT NEWS! This week, the Senate showed strong support for animals by voting in favor of three amendments to the Agriculture Appropriations bill for the upcoming fiscal year. Following the example of their colleagues in the House of Representatives, the Senate voted 69 to 28 in favor of an amendment to bar federal funds from being used to facilitate the slaughter of horses during the upcoming fiscal year. The amendment, introduced by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), will stop the slaughter of horses in the United States and prevent export of live horses for slaughter in other countries as well. Senator Byrd told his colleagues of the horror that victims of this trade currently endure. "Horses can be shipped for more than 24 hours without food, water, or rest. They can be transported with broken legs, missing eyes, or while heavily pregnant. The horses are kept in cramped conditions, in trucks with ceilings so low that they prevent the horses from holding their heads in a normal, upright position. The cramped nature of their transport often results in trampling, with some horses arriving at the slaughterhouses seriously injured or dead," he said. Improper use of stunning equipment at the slaughter plant "can result in the animal having to endure repeated blows" to the head, leaving the horse conscious for the slaughter process. Senator Ensign pronounced, "The time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America. As a senator and a veterinarian I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals." Two other amendments, offered by Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), were approved by the Senate. Though not voted on in the House of Representatives, they will be considered by an upcoming conference committee. The first measure will stop the slaughter of downed livestock, and the second will halt the supply of dogs and cats to laboratories by random source (Class B) dealers. Within the next few weeks, all three amendments will be considered by a conference committee before going to the President, so your immediate assistance is vital to the success of these key amendments. We must ensure that members of the conference committee, comprised of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, will fight to keep these amendments in the appropriations bill. Opponents will be working to have all three removed. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Your immediate help is needed TODAY: Please call as many members of the conference committee listed below as you can to urge their support for the three separate Agriculture Appropriations amendments to: In addition, please contact your Senators and Representative even if they're not on the conference committee, urging them to contact the conferees as well. All Members of Congress can be reached by calling the Capitol Hill Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.If you would like additional facts or need to find the name of your legislators, call us at 703-836-4300 or visit our website at http://www.saplonline.org. Your immediate action is essential to ensure Congress hears from an outpouring of concerned constituents. Please share our "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with family, friends and coworkers, and encourage them to make phone calls. Thank you so much for your help! Likely members of the FY06 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 HOUSE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Representative Henry Bonilla, (R-TX) Chairman - (202) 225-4511 Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, (D-CT) Ranking Member - (202) 225-3661 Representative Rodney Alexander, (R-LA) - (202) 225-8490 Representative Allen Boyd, (D-FL) - (202) 225-5235 Representative John Doolittle, (R-CA) - (202) 225-6511 Representative Jo Ann Emerson, (R-MO) - (202) 225-4404 Representative Sam Farr, (D-CA) - (202) 225-2861 Representative Virgil Goode, (R-VA) - (202) 225-4711 Representative Jack Kingston, (R-GA) - (202) 225-5831 Representative Tom Latham, (R-IA) - (202) 225-5476 Representative Ray LaHood, (R-IL) Vice Chair- (202) 225-6201 Representative Marcy Kaptur, (D-OH) - (202) 225-4146 Representative Maurice D. Hinchey, (D-NY) - (202) 225-6535 SENATE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Senator Robert Bennett, (R-UT) Chairman - (202) 224-5444 Senator Herb Kohl, (D-WI) Ranking Member - (202) 224-5653 Senator Christopher Bond, (R-MO) - (202) 224-5721 Senator Sam Brownback, (R-KS) - (202) 224-6521 Senator Conrad Burns, (R-MT) - (202) 224-2644 Senator Thad Cochran, (R-MS) - (202) 224-5054 Senator Larry Craig, (R-ID) - (202) 224-2752 Senator Byron Dorgan, (D-ND) - (202) 224-2551 Senator Richard Durbin, (D-IL) - (202) 224-2152 Senator Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) - (202) 224-3841 Senator Tom Harkin, (D-IA) - (202) 224-3254 Senator Tim Johnson, (D-SD) - (202) 224-5842 Senator Mary Landrieu, (D-LA) - (202) 224-5824 Senator Mitch McConnell, (R-KY) - (202) 224-2541 Senator Arlen Specter, (R-PA) - (202) 224-4254 Members in bold italics voted in favor of the amendment to prohibit federal funding from being used to support horse slaughter (a requirement for the slaughtering and export of animals intended for human consumption). Please thank them for their vote and urge them to strongly defend this amendment during the conference committee.
on 9/24/2005, 11:56 pm
65.40.68.122
Hi all,
This is very important and they must know we are on them please start making these calls now so the committee members do the right thing, The horses are depending on us. Please crosspost to everyone!!!
Tom
From: "John Holland" <hollandtech@earthlink.net>
Subject: Fw: URGENT SAPL eAlert - Fate of three humane measures in hands of Conference Committee
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:30:42 -0400
One little known secret of our legislative process is the committee that melds the House and Senate versions of a bill.
The Ensign/Byrd amendment that passed the senate was identical to the house version and both passed by wide margins.
Unfortunately, it is technically possible for the committee to just throw them out. Two other important animal issues could
also be scrapped. The committee is composed of senators and congressmen who are slightly heavier in the Nay column
on the horse issue so it is important we do not let them think they can steal this victory. Please read the attached alert
and act once more to keep this from happening! Be polite but let them know how you feel. They will act quickly because
the budget year is about to end and there will be no money for the department of Agriculture if this is not passed by the
end of the month.
Blessings upon you and your horses,
John Holland
----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Heyde <mailto:chris@saplonline.org>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 3:07 PM
Subject: URGENT SAPL eAlert - Fate of three humane measures in hands of Conference Committee
Fate of three humane measures in hands of Conference Committee
stop federal funding of horse slaughter,
end the sale of dogs and cats by random source dealers and
prevent the sale of downed animals.
The names of conferees have not been announced yet, but below is a list of those who are likely to serve. If you are a constituent of any of these individuals, please be sure to emphasize this when you call.
Sincerely,
Chris Heyde
Policy Analyst
Conference Committee
Society for Animal Protective Legislation · PO Box 3719 · Washington · DC · 20027
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