Houston, TX May 24, 2004 -– On May 11, 2004 U. S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-18-TX) did something that only 6 of her 32 colleagues from Texas had done – she co-sponsored H.R. 857, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
Vivian Farrell, founder and president of the Houston-based The Fund for Horses expressed her gratitude, and added, "I was particularly pleased to see this not only as her constituent, but also as the president of a horse protection organization based in her constituency."
Since then, U. S. Congressmen Nick Lampson (D-9-TX) and Charles Gonzalez (D-20-TX) signed onto the federal bill that, if enacted, would ban horse slaughter and export for slaughter.
Texans for Horses, a group organized last year to battle against state legislation that would have legalized horse slaughter in that state, and now under the mantle of The Fund for Horses, have been just as active at the federal level. "They have lobbied very hard indeed," said Farrell. "It is rewarding to see these results."
Why are horse slaughter plants still operating in Texas if it is illegal and a majority of Texans clearly do not want it? Farrell answered, "The foreign-owned horse slaughter plants filed an injunction citing interstate commerce law as soon as they realized that efforts to legalize it here were defeated. They are still in operation, butchering approximately 1000 horses a week, awaiting the Judge's ruling."
She added, "That is why a federal law banning horse slaughter is necessary if we want to stop this industry not only from continuing in Texas but also from setting up shop in other states. The Senate version of the bill has now been introduced (S.2352). We therefore call on all Americans who care about horses to contact their Senators and ask them to support this vital legislation. For more information, please visit our website at www.fund4horses.org."
The Fund for Horses is a non-profit equine advocacy group whose primary purpose is to influence the enactment and enforcement of protective legislation and policies for the humane care and treatment of all species Equidae.
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