House To Vote On Horse Slaughter Ban

The Bush administration argued on Thursday that a U.S. ban on slaughtering horses would actually make things worse — by moving the killing to less-humane plants outside the country.

House lawmakers were confronting again a practice they thought they had ended last year, when Congress voted to stop horse slaughter.

But they didn't ban it outright then: Instead, lawmakers yanked the salaries and expenses of federal inspectors. In response, the Bush administration simply started charging slaughter plants for inspections.

Critics call the industry un-American.

"Horses are an integral part of our country's culture, and they do not deserve to be slaughtered under brutal conditions," said Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif. "American horses deserve better treatment."

Debate began Thursday morning on whether to ban horse slaughter, and a vote was expected by evening.

"It is one of the most inhumane, brutal, shady practices going on in the U.S. today," said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., a sponsor of the ban.

Sweeney argues that the slaughter of horses is different from the slaughter of cattle and chickens because horses — such as Mr. Ed, Secretariat and Silver — are American icons.

American horse meat is sold mostly for human consumption in Europe and Asia, although some goes to U.S. zoos.

The industry's defenders say that slaughter plants offer a low-cost, humane way to end a horse's life when it is no longer useful. They say many owners can't afford to care for a horse that is no longer productive.

If horse slaughter ended in the U.S., plants in Canada and Mexico likely would take over some of the business, supporters argue. Unlike other countries, U.S. law requires that horses and other livestock be unable to feel pain before they are killed.

"We have serious concerns that the welfare of these horses would be negatively impacted by a ban on slaughter," Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a letter released Thursday declaring the Bush administration opposes a ban.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said the legislation "will not prevent horses from dying."

"For certain horses, these facilities provide a humane alternative to additional suffering or possible dangerous situations," Goodlatte said.

Meanwhile, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer questioned the priorities of the so-called "do-nothing" Congress as it considered the horse slaughter bill, reports CBS News Capitol Hill reporter Allison Davis.

"We have still not passed legislation that moves our nation towards energy independence. Yet we focus on horses," Hoyer said. "I'm concerned about horses but I am much, much more concerned about the American people."

Horse slaughter is a tiny business in the United States, compared to the huge beef, poultry and pork processing industries. Horses are slaughtered at two plants in Texas and one in Illinois. In all, about 88,000 horses, mules and other equines were slaughtered last year, according to the Agriculture Department.

The issue has drawn high-profile lobbyists. Opponents of horse slaughter include oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens and country singer Willie Nelson; supporters include former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek, who is now a rancher.