WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today introduced legislation to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act would also prohibit the export of live horses to Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses to be sold overseas.
“The slaughter of horses for human consumption is a barbaric practice that has no place in America,” Buchanan said. “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.”
Congresswoman Schakowsky said, “For centuries, horses have embodied the spirit of American freedom and pride. 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.”
Although the practice is currently illegal in the United States, the ban is temporary and subject to annual congressional review and no federal law exists to prohibit the transport of horses across America’s borders for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.
Last year, more than 37,000 American horses were exported to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses, according to U.S. and Canadian government agencies. Those horses are butchered and then transported overseas for consumption in Japan, Italy and other countries.
Buchanan co-chairs the Animal Protection Caucus in Congress. He is the only two-time recipient of the Humane Society’s “Legislator of the Year” award, winning the award in 2015 and 2020.
The SAFE Act has been endorsed by the Humane Society, the Animal Welfare Institute, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Return to Freedom.
Sara Amundson, President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, said, “Only nine years ago, 160,000 American horses were exported abroad for slaughter. Due to awareness of this inhumane and predatory industry, that number has dropped dramatically with only 37,249 shipped to slaughter in 2020. But one horse is still too many,” “ Fortunately, Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) have committed to passing this crucial animal and consumer protection bill which will end this grisly industry and protect these American icons from those who profit off their deaths.”
Nancy Perry, senior vice president of Government Relations for the ASPCA said, “The ASPCA is working resolutely to solve equine welfare issues on the ground, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open. An overwhelming majority of Americans oppose horse slaughter for human consumption and with May being Adopt a Horse Month, there is no better time than now to support at-risk horses by prohibiting this unnecessary and cruel practice. We are grateful to Representatives Schakowsky and Buchanan for their steadfast commitment to protecting our horses and we urge Congress to pass the SAFE Act to finally end this abhorrent practice.”
Cathy Liss, President of the Animal Welfare Institute said, “Each year, a huge number of American horses are shipped to foreign slaughterhouses to be butchered under shockingly inhumane conditions. Some are former racehorses that have been recently dosed with drugs considered unsafe for human consumption. The SAFE Act would ensure that both horses and people are protected. We are grateful to Congresswoman Schakowsky and Congressman Buchanan for their steadfast commitment to ending the slaughter of horses for human consumption.”
Neda DeMayo, founder of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation said, “We’re grateful that Reps. Schakowsky and Buchanan have heard the overwhelming opposition of the American people to horse slaughter. Wild horses that once roamed freely on our public lands, pets, race horses, work horses — no American horse deserves to be shipped to an inhumane death in a foreign slaughterhouse. The national effort to end this practice began in Congress 20 years ago so we call on everyone to join in ending this once and for all.”
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