Why Haven't US Representatives Courtney and Larson Joined the Other Three US Representatives from CT in Standing Up For Our Horses?

Horse auctions are the feeding grounds for kill buyers – those who purchase horses and ponies with the sole intent of transporting them to slaughter. Some of those who put their horses up at auction may be unaware that instead of their horse, their pony being purchased by a kindly soul it may instead be a killer buyer who makes the purchase. There exist a good number of horse auctions in Connecticut.

According to statistics provided by the USDA, 12,804 horses have been transported to Mexico as of February 28, 2015. A total of 4, 257, 38 horses have been transported to slaughter in the US (stopped in 2008) Mexico, Japan and Canada since1989.

A Bill is in the House that would prevent the transport to and slaughter of horses in the United States and transport across our borders. That Bill is HR 1942, the Safe Act. The only thing that is preventing horse slaughter in the US at this times is zero funding for the inspection by the USDA of horse slaughter plants. Zero funding is a temporary measure and expires in November of this year, unless it is renewed. HR 1942 is not temporary and would stop horses from entering and being hauled to slaughter in the slaughter pipeline to Mexico, Japan and Canada.

A month ago I wrote that Representatives Esty, DeLauro and Himes had all co-sponsored the bill. Regardless of my letters and phone calls to the offices of Representatives Courtney and Larson, I have no response to my questions concerning their failure to cosponsor. It is indeed ironic that both Representatives co-sponsored HR 1094 of the 113th Congress which was essentially the same as HR 1942.

I would urge everyone in their districts to write or call and urge them to co-sponsor HR 1942, the Safe Act, as quickly as possible. There is no place in this Country for the inhumane, horrifying slaughter of our horses. HR 1942 must receive support from at least 218 co-sponsors if it is to move on to the Senate. If it fails to do so and if zero funding for the inspection of horse slaughter plants is not continued after November of this year, American horses may once again shed their blood on American soil.