South Dakota's Legislature Passes Strongly Worded Resolution Calling on Congress and the Federal Government to Reinstate USDA Inspection of Horse Meat
The only thing preventing investment and jobs creation in a number of states is the inability to inspect horse meat for interstate and export purposes.
PIERRE - South Dakota State Senator Frank Kloucek announced today that a concurrent resolution calling on Congress to repeal roadblocks to the humane slaughter of horses, and the inspection of horse meat has passed by an overwhelming majority with only three no votes.
Just a few short years ago the equine industry was a $1.2 Billion dollar industry that supported some 460,000 direct full-time jobs working with horses every day, and another 1,600,000 indirect jobs. All indications are that the equine industry will have been effectively downsized by at least 50% in very short order, and have suffered the loss of at least 500,000 jobs.
Most of this can be laid squarely in the lap of the animal rights driven effort that led to the closure of the last U.S. horse processing plants in 2007. While some will claim that all of this economic distress is the result of the current nationwide situation, others will point out that the horse industry survived the economic downturn of the 1980s relatively intact.
Worst of all, the horses are suffering. The website, amillionhorses.com, has been documenting every media report of abandoned, neglected, and abused horses since the early 1990s and the increase in suffering is absolutely horrific. There was a 400% increase in stories detailing neglect and abandonment of horses from 2008 to 2009.
Members and supporters of the United Organizations of the Horse wholeheartedly believe that the key to rejuvenating the entire equine industry, and stopping the suffering of horses, is allowing for the option of a quick, humane death for unneeded horses, and the utilization of the healthy, wholesome meat by those who choose to do so.
There is a thriving worldwide market for horse meat. As was recently noted by Claude Bouvary, the owner of Bouvary Exports in Canada, one of the leading purveyors of horse meat worldwide, "Around the world today, there are as many meals of horse meat served every day, as there are McDonald's hamburgers."
There is a burgeoning underground interest in horse meat in the United States, and for good reason, the meat is very high in protein, very low in fat, and delicious. Gourmet chefs as well as those who are interested in wholesome, healthy meats from sustainable sources and well cared for animals are importing the meat. Others are obtaining it from local sources where that is legal.
The full text of the South Dakota Resolution is below.
Contact Sue Wallis
- 307 680 8515 cell
- 307 685 8248 ranch
- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
South Dakota Concurrent Resolution
State of South Dakota
EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2010
354R0767 SENATE ENGROSSED NO. SCR 4 - 3/2/2010
Introduced by: Senators Kloucek, Bartling, Bradford, Garnos, and Maher and Representatives Schrempp, Frerichs, Greenfield, Hoffman, Lederman, Nygaard, Olson (Betty), Sorenson, and Verchio
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Opposing certain federal legislation related to equine slaughter and processing and urging the reinstatement and funding of federal inspection programs governing equine slaughter and processing facilities.
WHEREAS, the slaughter and processing of horses has become a controversial and contentious issue, which has resulted in the closing of the last horse processing and slaughter facility in the United States; and
WHEREAS, thousands of unwanted horses annually are exposed to abandonment and neglect because of the cessation of horse slaughter in the United States. These additional abandoned horses compete for adoption with wild horses that are fed and sheltered at public expense. The nation's overburdened horse rescue facilities cannot absorb the influx of additional unwanted and abandoned horses that result from the cessation of equine slaughter, processing, and transport activity; and
WHEREAS, pending legislation in Congress, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, would further restrict actions related to horse slaughter and horse processing, and would prohibit the transport and export of horses outside of the United States for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. This legislation includes H.R. 503, S. 727, and similar legislation that only exacerbates the problem; and
WHEREAS, if transport of horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter and processing for human consumption is prohibited, as the current legislation before Congress proposes, the number of additional abandoned horses in the United States will increase even further; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, Congress removed funding for USDA inspection programs for horse slaughter and processing intended for human consumption. These funding bans have continued for several years and have effectively prevented the operation of slaughter facilities; and
WHEREAS, horse processing facilities cannot operate in the United States unless federal inspection for such facilities is funded and reinstated; and
WHEREAS, there is a critical need for humane horse processing facilities in the United States to reduce the suffering inflicted on unwanted and abandoned horses and to meet overseas export markets for horsemeat in a humane manner:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Eighty-fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the South Dakota Legislature urges the Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture to reinstate and fully fund USDA's inspection program for equine slaughter and processing facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the South Dakota Legislature urges the Congress to defeat the current Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, including H.R. 503 and S.727 and related legislation.