Jul 30, 2008

New U.S. House of Representatives Bill H.R.6598 "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" introduced July 24, 2008

With more than 100,000 American horses brutally slaughtered last year there is an urgent need to pass federal legislation to shut down this trade.

Thankfully, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) and many of their colleagues have taken up the reins and introduced H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act". The legislation recognizes horse slaughter for what it truly is - animal cruelty - and will end the practice for good.

H.R. 6598 is similar to H.R. 503, by prohibiting the knowing and intentional possession, shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering or receiving of a horse for slaughter. However, H.R. 6598 takes a simpler approach, prohibiting horse slaughter under the U.S. Code that addresses certain aspects of animal cruelty and abuse (known as "Title 18"). It creates a strong enforcement mechanism to prevent killer buyers from crossing the border with truckloads of horses, but only amends Title 18.