Getting Started on Capitol Hill
‘Herd on The Hill’ is our new update column from the In Our Hands Action Fund’s lobbyists on Capitol Hill. Early on we recognized that much of the information on the internet about horse slaughter was coming from people who weren’t even in Washington, DC, had no clue about the legislative process and only knew about the issue from what they read online. In Our Hands wanted the facts and expertise that comes from knowing the issue directly and that is why we set out to find the right people to get to work for us on Capitol Hill. In Our Hands is working directly with the lobbyist who started the national campaign to end horse slaughter almost 20 years ago and who continues to lead its efforts daily. Aside from working with legislators to end slaughter, he has been inside a U.S. horse slaughter facility, gone undercover at livestock auctions (pictured) and followed trucks carting horses to slaughter in Mexico and Canada. Nobody else can claim such expertise and that is why we are proud to partner with this firm.
By working with experienced lobbyists we can provide the necessary muscle and support needed to push a ban on horse slaughter over the finish line. While the coronavirus has consumed our daily lives our DC team has been talking daily with Congressional offices. They are discussing the urgent reasons for permanently banning horse slaughter in the US and preventing the export of our horses to Canada, Mexico and further abroad for slaughter there.
Although the first bill to ban horse slaughter was introduced in 2002 Congress has failed to pass a final measure into law. It is only through a restriction on federal funding that horse slaughter has been halted in the US for the past 15 years. Commonly known as the “Defund Amendment”, the restriction prohibits government inspection of horse slaughter plants, without which slaughter cannot occur. But this is not a permanent measure; the amendment has to be renewed every year and is subject to the whims of Congress. Further, it does not prohibit the export of our horses over our national lines. Just last year over 60,000 American horses were exported for slaughter.
We are long overdue for Congress to permanently ban horse slaughter and the export of horses for slaughter for human consumption. As our campaign grows and action is needed on Capitol Hill we will keep you informed. Be sure to follow us on social media, linked below, and sign up for action alerts and contact your elected officials through our new Action Center.
Join our efforts by writing your Member of Congress at our Action Center and to ask for their support to permanently ban horse slaughter for human consumption. The future of U.S. horses in our hands and in less than two minutes of your time, you can lend your voice to this important effort.