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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH OPPOSES BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

Votes to Preserve Market for SD Ranchers; Maintain Outlet for Unwanted Horses

September 7, 2006, Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth today voted against a bill that would completely ban horse slaughter in the United States. Herseth opposed the bill, H.R. 503, because it would eliminate a necessary outlet for unwanted horses and deprive South Dakota ranchers of an important market.

Herseth said, "During the debate on this amendment, I heard considerable and heart-felt opinions on horse slaughter from many people in South Dakota and across the country. I also heard compelling arguments about the need to keep horse slaughter facilities open as an outlet for unwanted horses, whether they are old, injured, neglected or abused. Defeating this bill will ensure that this market remains open and available for South Dakota ranching families, and will also maintain an appropriate outlet for unwanted horses."

In 2005, Herseth supported an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would prohibit USDA from spending any tax dollars to inspect horses destined for human consumption. All of the slaughter facilities in the U.S. are foreign-owned and virtually none of the meat from these animals is consumed domestically. Herseth believes U.S. taxpayers should not carry this burden and be made to subsidize foreign-held companies that do not produce a product consumed in the United States.

As a compromise, USDA has implemented a program that allows the slaughter of horses in the U.S. to continue on a fee-for-service basis. Herseth agrees with this compromise, and stated, "This system is a reasonable approach that has allowed the industry to continue doing business as it always has - providing an outlet for old, injured, or unwanted horses - but relieving taxpayers of the burden of paying for it."

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