Slaughter Legislation Could Be Put To Vote.

[sitaangel]

Slaughter Legislation Could Be Put To Vote
by: Amanda Duckworth
July 2006 Article # 7181

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act could be put to a vote when
Congress returns July 10 from its Fourth of July recess. Before the
break, Capitol Hill was the scene of intense lobbying from those on both
sides of the issue.

"There had been some thought for some quick movement, but it looks like
there are some scheduling and timing issues," Chris Heyde, deputy
legislative director for the Society for Animal Protective Legislation,
said June 28. "We have had a lot of people trying to raise awareness to
hopefully shake things loose. We've had a lot of veterinarians and
Thoroughbred owners and breeders in town. Even (Arthur and Staci Hancock
of Stone Farm near Paris, Ky.), were here doing some meetings."

The bill is believed to have the support of about 200 members of the
House; to pass that chamber, a bill requires a simple majority of the
435 members.

"We should be at at least 200 or a little over that," Heyde said. "I
think it will be much better in the Senate, where we haven't had as much
opposition, and we've only really had one person that opposes it in the
House."

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky is a strong proponent of the
legislation. On June 26, Brent Dolen, his press secretary, sought
support from the Jockeys' Guild.