This is a letter that I received from Senator Tom Coburn concerning the Horse slaughter issue. August 2, 2013 Mr. Lonnie Stewart Dear Mr. Stewart, Thank you for taking the time to write your support for the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1094/S. 541). It is good to hear from you, and I sincerely apologize for the delay in my response. The SAFE Act was introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) on March 12, 2013. As you may know, S. 541 would deem equine parts unsafe under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and would also prohibit the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Although I do not serve on this committee, I will keep your comments in mind if the bill comes to the Senate floor for a vote. Most owners want the best for their horses, but current federal regulations have removed important alternatives for those horses that are in poor health and whose options have been exhausted. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Quarterhorse Association, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners all consider horse slaughter to be a humane alternative for horses that have not been given a proper home, are older, or are in poor health, and I agree with these organizations. Horse owners must be allowed to make the difficult decision of allowing a horse to be taken to an appropriate slaughter facility in the U.S. Horses are currently being transported outside the borders of the United States because there are no longer any horse slaughter facilities in this country. The last two facilities, one in Texas and one in Illinois, were recently closed. These facilities utilized quick and painless methods, which many horse owners saw as preferable to international transport or prolonged illness. Unfortunately, many horses are now abandoned by owners who can no longer afford their care. My office has received an increasing number of complaints regarding abandoned and neglected horses, and we are hearing of a rise in such cases across the nation. America’s horses would have been better off, had Congress not overstepped its Constitutional boundaries on this matter; the best solutions lie in the hands of compassionate private citizens. I firmly believe that slaughter must remain an option. Legislation aimed at prohibiting horse slaughtering in the United States will not ensure the safe and proper treatment of unwanted horses. I will continue to oppose these efforts and hope common sense and science will soon prevail. Again, thank you for writing me. If I can be of any assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me. God bless. Sincerely, August 2, 2013 Tom A. Coburn, M.D. United States Senator
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 18:11:56 +0000
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