This is an action alert to crosspost about S-2352, HR 857 and SB
1921. Forward it widely to all your contacts, relatives, friends and
work or class partners. Make sure it reaches all the corners of the
Internet!!! You can also get the word out by printing its vital parts
and posting it in your vet office, ridding school/stable, feed store,
tack shop and every place you know there are horse people!!! Thanks
so much for your collaboration!!!
Daniel
-----------S. 2352/SB 1921 ACTION ALERT TO CROSSPOST-----------
EMERGENCY ALERT ON HORSE SLAUGHTER!!! SUPPORT FOR BILLS TO BAN HORSE
SLAUGHTER DESESPERATELY NEEDED!!!
Legislations to outlaw horse slaughter on both Federal and State
level need support desesperatelly before their respective
Legislatures ends.
1) FEDERAL LEVEL: HR 857 AND S-2352: The American Horse Slaughter
Prevention Act.
HR 857 (also known as The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act)
and its Senate version, S-2352, are Federal Legislations which will
ban the slaughter of horses in the whole country as well as the
transportation of horses for slaughter across US borders making sure
that no American Horse is killed for human comsuption, neither in the
US nor in Mexico or Canada.
HR 857 is still pending on the House Agriculture Committee and its
Senate version, S-2352, has been introduced on April 27. Both bills
need urgent support and more Co-sponsors in order to pass both the
House and the Senate before the November ellections.
THIS IS EXTREMELLY IMPORTANT! PLEASE, WRITE, FAX, CALL AND EMAIL YOUR
US SENATOR ASKING HIM TO CO-SPONSOR S-2352 AND YOUR CONGRESSMAN
URGING HIM OR TO CO-SPONSOR HR 857 (the House version). BE SURE TO
ASK YOUR RELATIVES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND WORK/CLASS PARTNERS TO DO
THE SAME. If your Senator or Congressman is already a cosponsor, send
him a "thank you" letter and contact other Congressmen or Senators;
it does not matter you do not reside on their districts because this
is a national issue since horses slaughtered at the two only horse
slaughterhouses remaining in the US (both in Texas and both French
and Belgian owned) come from all over the country, purchased by
killer buyers who go from auction to auction through several states.
Hurry up and start writing today; time is running out!!!
The best way to contact your Congressman and Senator is either by
writing to his district office or by sending a fax to his Washington,
DC office. There are some key points you should mention in youre
letters.
- Since horses are NOT food animals nor are breeded for food or
fiber, they receive VERY POTENT DRUGS, such as dewormers,
painkillers, hormones, anti-inflamatories, pesticides. non-for-human
use antibiotics and vaccines THAT BECOME RESIDENT ON THEIR FLESH and
which are not only VERY STRONG CARCINOGENS but also EXTREMELLY TOXIC
WHEN CONSUMED BY HUMANS. These drugs are already BANNED ON FOOD
ANIMALS such as cows or pigs and this is clearly stated on their
packages (not for use in horses intended for food). Horse meat poses
a great risk for the health of people who eat it abroad and therefore
lawmakers must not allow the production and exportation of this
product. Tell Legislators how unconscionable it is to allow a food
product to be exported for human consumption that simply is not safe
to be consumed.
-The argument saying that a ban on horse slaughter will lead to a
increase on equine abuse is false and ridiculous. Since California
banned horse slaughter in 1998 equine abuse decreased a so did horse
theft, which dropped by 34%. Also during the last years the number of
horses killed has dramatically decreased and this didnīt result on a
increase on horse abuse or horses being abandoned in fields or
streets. Tell them that horse slaughter promotes abuse and theft;
that in Texas, where are located the two only slaughterhouses
remaining in the US horse abuse and theft is rampant.
- Since there is no export tariff on horse meat NO PROFITS FROM THIS
DISGUSTING INDUSTRY REMAIN IN AMERICA. They are siphoned directly to
Belgium and France, the home country of the only 2 operative horse
slaughterhouses remaining in the US. In addition, these plants pays
NO state taxes. Tell Legislators that horses are more valuable for
the economy live than dead and how the horse industry really provides
profits for the community such as money, jobs and investments.
- Horses in the US are NOT food animals, they are instead pets, like
dogs or cats and sport, leisure animals. Eating horse in America or
allowing their slaughter for comsuption overseas is ETHICALLY AND
MORALLY UNNACEPTABLE; that it is just UN-AMERICAN.
- There are better alternatives to deal with unwanted horses, such as
rescuing, retraining programs or chemical, painless euthanasia.
- It is false and ridiculous that banning horse slaughter will lead
to a ban of the slaughter of food producing animals such as cows,
pigs or sheeps. Horses are NOT food animals and as such must be
protected from slaughter.
You can find who your Senator or Congressman is and their contact
info on the following website:
At the end of this message you can find a list of Senators Washington
phone and fax numbers and sample letters for HR 857 and S-2352.
BE SURE TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE!!! CROSSPOST THIS
MESSAGE WIDELY!!! Print it and post it on your vet office, ridding
school, stable, feed store, tack shop and on every place where horse
people meet!!!
2) STATE LEVEL: SB 1921, ILLINOIS BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER
Illinois Senate Bill 1921is a legislation that will ban the slaughter
of horses in Illinois and the transportation of horses for slaughter,
preventing Beligian-owned corporation Cavel International from
opening and operating a new horse slaughterhouse being rebuilt in
DeKalb, Illinois. This new horse slaughterhouse would be the third
one in the country and, if opens, will set a dangerous precedent
which would lead to the opening of more horse slaughterhouses in
other states.
The bill didnīt obtained the minimum number of votes (60) to be
considerated last March, so it will be revoted again before May 21,
when the current Illinois State Legislature ends.
THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL: SUPPORT IS DESESPERATELLY NEEDED FOR THIS
BILL. PLEASE, FAX, CALL, WRITE AND EMAIL AS MANY ILLINOIS
REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS YOU CAN DURING THE NEXT WEEKS ASKING
THEM TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER FOR HUMAN
COMSUPTION!!!! ASK FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND WORK/CLASS
PARTNERS TO DO THE SAME!!! IT IS EXTREMELLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS
LEGISLATION BECOMES LAW BEFORE MAY 21, BECAUSE IT WILL BLOCK CAVELīS
OPENING BEFORE IT STARTS KILLING HORSES. In the other hand, Cavelīs
powerful lobbyists are working very hard to defeat this legislation
so we need every support available. It doesnīt matter you are not an
Illinois resident because that horses killed at Cavel will come from
all over the country, especially from the Eastern states, including
VA, PA, OH, KY, IN, NC, SC and all New England. Donīt forget to
mention this if you are not an Illinois resident!
Center your efforts on the Senators and the Representatives from the
list located at the bottom. There are some key points that you have
to mention when contacting IL Legislators, do not forget to include
them on your faxes, emails and calls, because they are so very
important for lawmakers! These points are:
- Since horses are NOT food animals nor are breeded for food or
fiber, they receive VERY POTENT DRUGS, such as dewormers,
painkillers, hormones, anti-inflamatories, pesticides. non-for-human
use antibiotics and vaccines THAT BECOME RESIDENT ON THEIR FLESH and
which are not only VERY STRONG CARCINOGENS but also EXTREMELLY TOXIC
WHEN CONSUMED BY HUMANS. These drugs are already BANNED ON FOOD
ANIMALS such as cows or pigs and this is clearly stated on their
packages (not for use in horses intended for food). Horse meat poses
a great risk for the health of people who eat it abroad and therefore
lawmakers must not allow the production and exportation of this
product. Tell Legislators how unconscionable it is to allow a food
product to be exported for human consumption that simply is not safe
to be consumed.
-The argument saying that a ban on horse slaughter will lead to a
increase on equine abuse is false and ridiculous. Since California
banned horse slaughter in 1998 equine abuse decreased a so did horse
theft, which dropped by 34%. Also during the last years the number of
horses killed has dramatically decreased and this didnīt result on a
increase on horse abuse or horses being abandoned in fields or
streets. Tell them that horse slaughter promotes abuse and theft;
that in Texas, where are located the two only slaughterhouses
remaining in the US horse abuse and theft is rampant.
- Horses are taxed as a non food and recreatonal animal, and as such
are not exempt fron Illinois sales taxes as are annimals that are
raised for food. If horses become part of the "food chain" Illinois
will lose millions of dollars annually in just sales taxes alone.
- Since there is no export tariff on horse meat NO PROFITS FROM THIS
DISGUSTING INDUSTRY REMAIN IN ILLINOIS OR AMERICA. They are siphoned
directly to Belgium, the home country of Cavel. In addition, Cavel
pays NO state taxes. Tell Legislators that horses are more valuable
for the economy live than dead and how the horse industry really
provides profits for the community such as money, jobs and
investments.
- Horses in the US are NOT food animals, they are instead pets, like
dogs or cats and sport, leisure animals. Eating horse in America or
allowing their slaughter for comsuption overseas is ETHICALLY AND
MORALLY UNNACEPTABLE; that it is just UN-AMERICAN.
- There are better alternatives to deal with unwanted horses, such as
rescuing, retraining programs or chemical, painless euthanasia.
- It is false and ridiculous that banning horse slaughter will lead
to a ban of the slaughter of food producing animals such as cows,
pigs or sheeps. Horses are NOT food animals and as such must be
protected from slaughter.
The best way to contact Illinois Legislators is by FAXING, CALLING
AND EMAILING THEM TO THEIR THEIR SPRINGFIELD OFFICES. Please, do not
waste time and start faxing, emailing and calling today!!! We need
your help to stop horse slaughter and to prevent Cavel horse
slaughterhouse from operating!!!
The names, addresses, and phone/fax numbers of members of the
Illinois House of Representatives and Senators can been found on:
We have a complete list of contact information for IL Legislators. If
you want a copy, just send a message to fletosojoi @ tiscali.es
At the end you can find a sample letter.
PLEASE CROSSPOST THIS MESSAGE EVERYWHERE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR COLLABORATION!!!
Daniel Cordero Fernandez.
-----------SAMPLE LETTER TO US SENATORS (S-2352)-----------------
(Cut and paste it on a text file, file the gaps, change the address
if it is necessary and then print it and send it. I encourage you
to "customize" it with your own words so the letters do not look
like "form letters"; thanks)
The Honorable _________________
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Subject: Support S. 2352, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act
Dear Senator _________________:
I am writing to you in the hope that I can somehow convince you to
support and co-sponsor S. 2352, The American Horse Slaughter
Prevention Act. This bill was introduced by Senators Ensign and
Landrieu along with several other Senators and would prohibit the
slaughter of horses for human consumption, as well as the trade and
transport of horseflesh and live horses intended for human
consumption.
I ask you to support and co-sponsor this legislation as being
positive for Americans, American horses and the American horse
industry. Also, please let me take this opportunity to remind you of
some of the strong arguments I have in asking you to support it.
Eating horses in America or killing them for human consumption is
ethically and morally unacceptable. Horses in America are considered
pets and sport/leisure animals; not food animals. The foreign-owned
horse slaughter industry has slaughtered and exported for human
consumption over 3 million American horses in the last two decades.
This is intolerable and we should not allow this abominable practice
to continue in our country.
Since horses are not food animals, nor are they specifically bred for
food or fiber, they are medicated with very potent drugs, such as
dewormers, painkillers,hormones, anti-inflamatories, and pesticides
for fly control. These antibiotics and vaccines become resident in
their flesh and are specifically labeled not for human use. Not only
do they contain very strong carcinogens but are also extremely toxic
when consumed by humans. Some of these drugs are already banned on
domestic food animals such as cows or pigs and this indication is
clearly stated on their packages (NOT FOR USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR
FOOD).
Horsemeat poses a great risk for the health of people who eat it
abroad and therefore we must not allow the production and exportation
of this product. It is unconscionable to allow a food product to be
exported for human consumption that simply is not safe to be
consumed, especially in light of recent bans by the European Union on
exports of American meat.
Since there is no export tariff on horsemeat, no profits from this
deplorable business remain in America. In addition, these foreign-
owned companies pay no state taxes at all. Therefore, all the profits
from horse slaughter are siphoned directly to Belgium and France, the
home countries of these corporations. Economically, it is point
proven that horses are more valuable for the economy live than dead.
While the live horse industry creates millions of dollars each year
and provides jobs for thousands of people, the horse slaughter
industry only creates profit for these corporations.
Horses are taxed as a non-food and recreational animal (although
classified as "livestock"), and as such are not exempt from state and
local sales taxes, as are animals that are traditionally raised for
food. If horses become part of the "food chain", each state will lose
millions of dollars annually in sales tax revenue alone.
Horses slaughtered by these foreign-owned industries in the United
States have often been hauled several thousand miles over several
days, contrary to acceptable non-slaughter standards for water, food,
and rest. Horses sent to be slaughtered are often shipped on crowded
double-decker trucks designed for shorter necked species such as
pigs, cattle and sheep, and are forced to travel in a bent position
which can result in suffering, injury and death.
Callous and extremely inhumane treatment at the slaughterhouse
results in prolonged suffering. Horses endure repeated blows to the
head with stunning equipment that often does not render the animals
unconscious and many horses remain conscious during their own
slaughter, including having their throats slit.
Horse slaughter is a barbaric and despicable business. A vast
majority of Americans (over 85% according to recent polls) are
opposed to it. They, together with the horse industry's professionals
and numerous equine welfare and other humanitarian organizations, are
currently working to get the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act
(whose House Version has already 205 Co-sponsors) enacted in order to
ban it entirely from this country.
Claims saying that a ban on horse slaughter will lead to an increase
on abuse cases and horses abandoned on streets and fields is false
and ridiculous. Since California passed legislation banning horse
slaughter and its transport for slaughter 6 years ago, horse abuse
and starvation cases decreased. Also, during the last years the
number of horses slaughtered decreased dramatically (from over
300.000 in the 90's to less than 43.000 in 2003) and the extra number
of horses that were not slaughtered each year did not cause any
increase on abuse or neglection cases.
Americans do not eat horses nor do we raise our horses for food. The
only reason horse slaughter exists is to satisfy the palates of
foreigners who consider horseflesh a delicacy along with the greed of
the corporations which provide it. "Killer buyers" who travel from
one auction to the next filling up their trucks provide the horses
for this industry. Others are stolen; even our federally protected
wild horse population can end up there. In addition, horse slaughter
promotes horse theft. Since California banned the slaughter of
horses in 1998, horse theft has decreased over 34%, while the welfare
of horses has significantly improved. May I also point out that in
Texas where the only two operating horse slaughterhouses remaining in
the US, horse theft and abuse is rampant.
In spite of contrary claims, the great majority of the horses
slaughtered are not old, sick, crippled or unwanted, but instead, are
young, healthy, fat American horses, including federally protected
wild horses. Pregnant mares and mares with very young foals at their
side; purchased at auction where slaughterhouses middlemen
dubbed "killer buyers" which outbid families and farmers looking for
pets, riding and working horses.
Horses have played a significant role in the history and culture of
the United States. As a non-food and recreational animal, horses
should be protected from slaughter. Again, I urge you to support and
cosponsor S.2352, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
I look forward to receiving a response from you regarding your
position on this issue, which is of significant and great importance
to me. Thank you for your time and consideration of my letter.
Sincerely,
_______________________
-----------SAMPLE LETTER TO US REPRESENTATIVES (HR 857)-----------
The Honorable _________________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Subject: Support HR 857
Dear Representative _________________:
I am writing to you in the hope that I can somehow convince you to
support and co-sponsor H.R. 857, The American Horse Slaughter
Prevention Act. This bill was introduced by Representatives Sweeney
and Spratt and would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human
consumption, as well as the trade and transport of horseflesh and
live horses intended for human consumption.
I ask you to support and co-sponsor this legislation as being
positive for Americans, American horses and the American horse
industry. Also, please let me take this opportunity to remind you of
some of the strong arguments I have in asking you to support it.
Eating horses in America or killing them for human consumption is
ethically and morally unacceptable. Horses in America are considered
pets and sport/leisure animals; not food animals. The foreign-owned
horse slaughter industry has slaughtered and exported for human
consumption over 3 million American horses in the last two decades.
This is intolerable and we should not allow this abominable practice
to continue in our country.
Since horses are not food animals, nor are they specifically bred for
food or fiber, they are medicated with very potent drugs, such as
dewormers, painkillers,hormones, anti-inflamatories, and pesticides
for fly control. These antibiotics and vaccines become resident in
their flesh and are specifically labeled not for human use. Not only
do they contain very strong carcinogens but are also extremely toxic
when consumed by humans. Some of these drugs are already banned on
domestic food animals such as cows or pigs and this indication is
clearly stated on their packages (NOT FOR USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR
FOOD).
Horsemeat poses a great risk for the health of people who eat it
abroad and therefore we must not allow the production and exportation
of this product. It is unconscionable to allow a food product to be
exported for human consumption that simply is not safe to be
consumed, especially in light of recent bans by the European Union on
exports of American meat.
Since there is no export tariff on horsemeat, no profits from this
deplorable business remain in America. In addition, these foreign-
owned companies pay no state taxes at all. Therefore, all the profits
from horse slaughter are siphoned directly to Belgium and France, the
home countries of these corporations. Economically, it is point
proven that horses are more valuable for the economy live than dead.
While the live horse industry creates millions of dollars each year
and provides jobs for thousands of people, the horse slaughter
industry only creates profit for these corporations.
Horses are taxed as a non-food and recreational animal (although
classified as "livestock"), and as such are not exempt from state and
local sales taxes, as are animals that are traditionally raised for
food. If horses become part of the "food chain", each state will lose
millions of dollars annually in sales tax revenue alone.
Horses slaughtered by these foreign-owned industries in the United
States have often been hauled several thousand miles over several
days, contrary to acceptable non-slaughter standards for water, food,
and rest. Horses sent to be slaughtered are often shipped on crowded
double-decker trucks designed for shorter necked species such as
pigs, cattle and sheep, and are forced to travel in a bent position
which can result in suffering, injury and death.
Callous and extremely inhumane treatment at the slaughterhouse
results in prolonged suffering. Horses endure repeated blows to the
head with stunning equipment that often does not render the animals
unconscious and many horses remain conscious during their own
slaughter, including having their throats slit.
Horse slaughter is a barbaric and despicable business. A vast
majority of Americans (over 85% according to recent polls) are
opposed to it. They, together with the horse industry's professionals
and numerous equine welfare and other humanitarian organizations, are
currently working to get the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act
(which already has 205 Co-sponsors) enacted in order to ban it
entirely from this country.
Claims saying that a ban on horse slaughter will lead to an increase
on abuse cases and horses abandoned on streets and fields is false
and ridiculous. Since California passed legislation banning horse
slaughter and its transport for slaughter 6 years ago, horse abuse
and starvation cases decreased. Also, during the last years the
number of horses slaughtered decreased dramatically (from over
300.000 in the 90's to less than 43.000 in 2003) and the extra number
of horses that were not slaughtered each year did not cause any
increase on abuse or neglection cases.
Americans do not eat horses nor do we raise our horses for food. The
only reason horse slaughter exists is to satisfy the palates of
foreigners who consider horseflesh a delicacy along with the greed of
the corporations which provide it. "Killer buyers" who travel from
one auction to the next filling up their trucks provide the horses
for this industry. Others are stolen; even our federally protected
wild horse population can end up there. In addition, horse slaughter
promotes horse theft. Since California banned the slaughter of
horses in 1998, horse theft has decreased over 34%, while the welfare
of horses has significantly improved. May I also point out that in
Texas where the only two operating horse slaughterhouses remaining in
the US, horse theft and abuse is rampant.
In spite of contrary claims, the great majority of the horses
slaughtered are not old, sick, crippled or unwanted, but instead, are
young, healthy, fat American horses, including federally protected
wild horses. Pregnant mares and mares with very young foals at their
side; purchased at auction where slaughterhouses middlemen
dubbed "killer buyers" will outbid families and farmers looking for
pets, riding and working horses.
Horses have played a significant role in the history and culture of
the United States. As a non-food and recreational animal, horses
should be protected from slaughter. Again, I urge you to support and
cosponsor H.R. 857, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
I look forward to receiving a response from you regarding your
position on this issue, which is of significant and great importance
to me. Thank you for your time and consideration of my letter.
Sincerely,
_______________________
-------LIST OF US SENATORS WASHINGTON PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS-----
STATE SENATOR & PARTY PHONE
FAX
AREA CODE FOR ALL: 202
AL Richard C. Shelby [R] 224-4744 224-341
AL Jeff Sessions [R] 224-4124 224-3149
AK Ted Stevens [R] 224-3004 224-2354
AK Lisa Murkowski [R] 224-6665 224-5301
AZ John McCain [R] 224-2235 228-2862
AZ Jon Kyl [R] 224-4521 224-2207
AR Blanche Lincoln [D] 224-4843
228-1371
AR Mark Pryor [D] 224-2353 228-0908
CA Dianne Feinstein [D] 224-3841 228-3954
CA Barbara Boxer [D] 224-3553 415-956-6701
CO Ben Campbell [D] 224-5852 228-4609
CO Wayne Allard [R] 224-5941 224-647
CT Christopher Dodd [D] 224-2823 224-108
CT Joseph Lieberman [D] 224-4041
224-9750
DE Joseph R. Biden, Jr. [D] 224-5042 224-0139
DE Thomas Carper [D] 224-2441
228-2190
FL Bob Graham [D] 224-3041 224-2237
FL Bill Nelson [D] 224-5274 228-2183
GA Zell Miller [D] 224-3643 228-2090
GA Saxby Chambliss [R] 224-3521 224-0103
HI Daniel Inouye [D] 224-3934 224-6747
HI Daniel Akaka [D] 224-6361 224-2126
ID Larry Craig [R] 224-2752 228-1067
ID Mike Crapo [R] 224-6142 228-1375
IL Richard Durbin [D] 224-2152 228-0400
IL Peter Fitzgerald [R] 224-2854 228-1372
IN Richard Lugar [R] 224-4814 228-0360
IN Evan Bayh [D] 224-5623 228-1377
IA Charles Grassley [R] 224-3744 224-6020
IA Tom Harkin [D] 224-3254 224-9369
KS Sam Brownback [R] 224-6521 228-1265
KS Pat Roberts [R] 224-4774 224-3514
KY Mitch McConnell [R] 224-2541 224-2499
KY Jim Bunning [R] 224-4343 228-1373
LA John Breaux [D] 224-4623 228-2577
LA Mary Landrieu [D] 224-5824 224-9735
ME Olympia Snowe [R] 224-5344 224-2693
MD Paul Sarbanes [D] 224-4524 224-1651
MD Barbara Mikulski [D] 224-4654 224-8858
MA Edward Kennedy [D] 224-4543 224-2417
MA John Kerry [D] 224-2742 224-8525
MI Carl Levin [D] 224-6221 224-1388
MI Debbie Stabenow [D] 224-4822 228-0325
MN Mark Dayton [D] 224-3244 228-2186
MN Norm Coleman [R] 224-5641 224-1152
MS Thad Cochran [R] 224-5054 224-9450
MS Trent Lott [R] 224-6253 224-2262
MO Christopher Bond [R] 224-5732 224-8149
MO Jim Talent [R] 224-6154 228-1518
MT Max Baucus [D] 224-2651 224-4700
MT Conrad Burns [R] 224-2644 224-8594
NE Chuck Hagel [R] 224-4224 224-5213
NE Ben Nelson [D] 224-6551 228-0012
NV Harry Reid [D] 224-3542 224-7327
NV John Ensign [R] 224-6244 228-2193
NH Judd Gregg [R] 224-3324 224-4952
NH John Sununu [R] 224-2841 228-4131
NJ Jon Corzine [D] 224-4744 228-2197
NJ Frank Lautenberg [D] 224-3224 228-4054
NM Pete Domenici [R] 224-6621 228-0900
NM Jeff Bingaman [D] 224-5521 224-2852
NY Charles Schumer [D] 224-6542 228-3027
NY Hillary Clinton [D] 224-4451 228-0282
NC John Edwards [D] 224-3154 228-1374
NC Elizabeth Dole [R] 224-6342 224-5432
ND Kent Conrad [D] 224-2043 224-7776
ND Byron Dorgan [D] 224-2551 224-1193
OH Mike DeWine [R] 224-2315 224-6519
OH George Voinovich [R] 224-3353 228-1382
OK Don Nickles [R] 224-5754 224-6008
OK James Inhofe [R] 224-4721 228-0380
OR Ron Wyden [D] 224-5244
228-2717
OR Gordon Smith [R] 224-3753 228-3997
PA Arlen Specter [R] 224-4254 228-1229
PA Rick Santorum [R] 224-6324 228-0604
RI Jack Reed [D] 224-4642 224-4680
RI Lincoln Chafee [R] 224-2921 228-2853
SC Ernest Hollings [D] 224-6121 224-4293
SC Lindsey Graham [R] 224-5972 224-3808
SD Thomas Daschle [D] 224-2321 224-6603
SD Tim Johnson [D] 224-5842 228-5765
TN William Frist [R] 224-3344 228-1264
TN Lamar Alexander [R] 224-4944 228-3398
TX Kay Hutchinson [R] 224-5922 224-0776
TX John Cornyn [R] 224-2934 228-2856
UT Orrin Hatch [R] 224-5251 224-6331
UT Robert Bennett [R] 224-5444 228-1168
VT Patrick Leahy [D] 224-4242 224-3479
VT James Jeffords [I] 224-5141 228-0776
VA John Warner [R] 224-2023 224-6295
VA George Allen [R] 224-4024 224-5432
WA Patty Murray [D] 224-2621 224-0238
WA Maria Cantwell [D] 224-3441 228-0514
WV Robert Byrd [D] 224-3954 228-0002
WV John Rockefeller IV [D] 224-6472 224-7665
WI Herb Kohl [D] 224-5653 224-9787
WI Russell Feingold [D] 224-5323 224-2725
WY Craig Thomas [R] 224-6441 224-1724
WY Michael Enzi [R] 224-3424 228-0359
-----------SAMPLE LETTER TO THE IL REPS & SENATORS------------
(Cut and paste it on a text file, file the gaps, change the address
and the attention line for "Senator" if it is necessary and then
print it and send it. I encourage you to "customize" it with your own
words so the letters do not look like "form letters"; thanks)
The Honorable ________________
<Fill in with the address>
Dear Representative _______________:
I urge you to support legislation introduced by Representative Robert
S. Molaro that will prohibit the slaughter of horses for human
consumption in Illinois and the trade and transport of horseflesh and
live horses intended for human consumption.
I ask you to support and vote for this legislation as being good for
IL people, IL horses and the IL horse industry. Also, please let me
take this opportunity to remember you some of the strong arguments I
have to ask you to support it.
Eating horses in America or killing them for human comsuption is
ethically and morally unnaceptable. Horses in America are considered
pets and sport, leisure animals not food animals. The foreign-owned
horse slaughter industry has slaughtered and exported for human
consumption over 3 million American horses in the last 2 decades.
This is intolerable and we should not allow this abominable practice
to continue in Illinois.
Since horses are NOT food animals nor are breeded for food or fiber,
they are medicated with VERY POTENT DRUGS, such as dewormers,
painkillers, hormones, anti-inflamatories, pesticides. non-for-human
use antibiotics and vaccines that become resident on their flesh and
that are not only VERY STRONG CARCINOGENS but also EXTREMELLY TOXIC
when consumed by humans. These drugs are already BANNED ON FOOD
ANIMALS such as cows or pigs and this is clearly stated on their
packages (NOT FOR USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR FOOD). Horse meat poses
a great risk for the health of people who eat it abroad and therefore
we must not allow the production and exportation of this product. It
is unconscionable to allow a food product to be exported for human
consumption that simply is not safe to be consumed.
Since there is no export tariff on horse meat NO profits from this
deplorable business remain in Illinois. In addition, Cavel pays NO
state taxes at all. Therefore, ALL the profits from it are siphoned
directly to Belgium, the home country of Cavel. Also, point out that
horses are more valuable for the economy live than dead: While all
the profits from horse slaughter goes to Belgium, the profits
originated by the Illinois horse industry remain in the State adding
lots of millions of dollars to GDP each year and providing jobs for
thousands of people and prosperity to economy of Illinois.
Horses are taxed as a non food and recreatonal animals, and as such
are not exempt fron Illinois sales taxes as are animals that are
raised for food. If horses become part of the "food chain" Illinois
will lose millions of dollars annually in just sales taxes alone.
Horses slaughtered by these foreign-owned industry in the United
States have often been hauled several thousand miles over several
days, contrary to acceptable non-slaughter standards for water, food,
and rest. Horses sent to be slaughtered are often shipped on crowded
double deck trucks designed for shorter necked species such as pigs,
cattle and sheep, and are forced to travel in a bent position which
can result in suffering, injury and death.
Callous and extremely inhumane treatment at the slaughterhouse
results in prolonged suffering. Horses endure repeated blows to the
head with stunning equipment that often does not render the animals
unconscious and often horses remain conscious during their own
slaughter, including throat slitting.
Horse slaughter is a barbaric, despicable business, and a vast
majority of Americans (over 85% according to recent polls) are
opposed to it, and they, together with the horse industryīs
professionals and numerous equine welfare and other humanitarian
organizations, are currently working to get the American Horse
Slaughter Prevention Act (which already has 10 Cosponsors from
Illinois) enacted in order to ban it entirely from this country
altogether.
Claims saying that a ban on horse slaughter will lead to an increase
on abuse cases and horses abandoned on streets and fields is false
and ridiculous. Since California passed legislation banning horse
slaughter and its transport for slaughter 6 years ago, horse abuse
and starvation cases decreased. Also, during the last years the
number of horses slaughtered decreased dramatically (from over
300.000 in the 90's to less than 43.000 in 2003) and the extra number
of horses that were not slaughtered each year did not cause any
increase on abuse or neglection cases.
Americans do not eat horses; we do not raise our horses for food. The
only reason horse slaughter exists is to satisfy the palates of
foreigners who consider horseflesh a delicacy and the greed of the
corporations which provide it. "Killer buyers" who travel from one
auction to the next filling up their trucks provide the horses for
this industry. Others are stolen; even our federally protected wild
horse population can end up there. In addition, horse slaughter
promotes horse theft: Since California banned the slaughter of horses
in 1998, horse theft has decreased over 34%, while the welfare of
horses significantly improved. Also point out that in Texas, where
are located of two only operative horse slaughterhouses remaining in
the US horse theft and abuse are rampant.
Also, in spite of contrary claims, the great majority of the horses
slaughtered are not old, sick, crippled or unwanted, but instead, are
young, healthy, fat American horses, including federally protected
wild horses, pregnant mares and mares with very young foals at their
side. There are better ways to deal with unwanted horses like
retraining programs and chemical, painless euthanasia.
In addition, claims saying that banning horse slaughter will lead to
a ban on the slaughter of food producing animals are false and
ridiculous. California banned horse slaughter years ago and since
then there were no attacks of any kind on farmed food animal
slaughter.
Horses have played a significant role in the history and culture of
the United States. As a non-food and recreational animal, horses
should be protected from slaughter. Again, I urge you to support and
cosponsor legislation that will ban the slaugter of horses for human
comsuption.
I look forward to receiving a response from you regarding your
position on this issue, which is of importance to me. Thank you for
your time and consideration of my letter.
Sincerely,
____________________
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LIST OF KEY ILLINOIS REPRESENTATIVES & SPRINFIELD PHONE NUMBERS
Phone Fax
Patricia Bailey (217) 782-5971 (217) 558-6370
Mark Beaubien (217) 782-1517 (217) 782-3189
Patricia Bellock (217) 782-1448 (217) 782-2289
Mike Boland (217) 782-3992 (217) 782-5201
Mike Bost (217) 782-0387 (217) 557-7213
John Bradley (217) 782-1051 (217) 782-0882
Dan Brady (217) 782-1118 (217) 558-6271
Rich Brauer (217) 782-0053 (217) 782-0897
James Brosnahan (217) 782-0515 (217) 789-4899
Daniel Burke (217) 782-1117 (217) 782-0927
Marlow H. Colvin (217) 782-8272 (217) 782-2404
Shane Cultra (217) 558-1039 (217) 558-1098
Lee Daniels (217) 782-4014 (217) 782-3234
Kenneth 'Ken' Dunkin (217) 782-5997 (217) 782-2779
Lisa Dugan (217) 782-5981 (217) 782-0945
Joe Dunn (217) 782-6507 (217) 782-5257
Roger L. Eddy (217) 558-1040 (217) 558-3481
Bob Flider (217) 782-8398 (217) 782-2528
Jack Franks (217) 782-1717 (217) 557-7203
John Fritchey (217) 782-2458 (217) 557-7214
Paul Froehlich (217) 782-3725 (217) 782-1336
Calvin Giles (217) 782-5962 (217) 782-2779
Colleen Gordon (217) 782-4535 (217) 782-7631
Bill Grunloh (217) 782-2087 (217) 524-0867
Gary Hannig (217) 782-8071 (217) 524-1794
Brent Hassert (217) 782-4179 (217) 782-1275
Randall Hultgren (217) 782-1653 (217) 782-1139
Charles Jefferson (217) 782-3167 (217) 557-7654
Renee Kosel (217) 782-0424 (217) 557-7249
David Leitch (217) 782-8108 (217) 557-3047
Patricia Lindner (217) 782-1486 (217) 782-1873
Eileen Lyons (217) 782-0494 (217) 557-7209
Jack McGuire (217) 782-8090 (217) 557-6465
John J. Millner (217) 558-1037 none
Charles Morrow (217) 782-1702 (217) 782-9274
Ruth Munson (217) 782-8020 none
JoAnn Osmond (217) 782-8151 (217) 557-7207
Brandon W. Phelps (217) 782-5131 none
Raymond Poe (217) 782-0044 (217) 588-1072
Dan Reitz (217) 782-1018 (217) 782-0945
Chapin Rose (217) 558-1006 (217) 782-1275
Timothy Schmitz (217) 782-5457 (217) 782-1275
Michael Smith (217) 782-8152 (217) 557-4415
Keith Sommer (217) 782-0221 (217) 782-1275
Ron Stephens (217) 782-6401 (217) 557-3047
Arthur Tenhouse (217) 782-8096 (217) 782-7012
Arthur Turner (217) 782-8116 (217) 782-0888
Ron Wait (217) 782-0548 (217) 782-1275
Jim Watson (217) 782-1840 (217) 782-1336
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
LIST OF ILLINOIS SENATORS & SPRINGFIELD PHONE AND FAX #
Phone Fax
Pamela Althoff (217) 782-8000 (217) 782-3331
Bill Brady (217) 782-6216 (217) 782-0116
James Clayborne (217) 782-5399 (618) 274-3010
Jacqui Collins (217) 782-1607 (773) 483-7583
Daniel Cronin (217) 782-8107 (217) 782-0069
Maggie Crotty (217) 782-9595 (217) 782-3213
John Cullerton (217) 782-7260 (217) 782-5613
Miguel del Valle (217) 782-5652 (217) 782-4450
James DeLeo (217) 782-1035 (217) 558-1042
Vince Demuzio (217) 782-8206 (217) 558-1042
Kirk W. Dillard (217) 782-8148 (217) 782-0650
Gary Forby (217) 782-5509 (217)-782-6895
Susan Garrett (217) 782-3650 (217) 782-2115
Adeline Geo-Karis (217) 782-7353 (217) 782-7818
Bill Haine (217) 782-5247 (618) 465-4816
Debbie Halvorson (217) 782-7419 (217) 558-2068
Don Harmon (217) 782-8176 (217) 782-1631
Rickey Hendon (217) 782-6252 (217) 782-1631
Mattie Hunter (217) 782-5966 (217) 782-3961
Denny Jacobs (217) 782-5957 (217) 588-6006
John O. Jones (217) 782-0471 (217) 782-4079
Wendell Jones (217) 782-4471 (217) 782-0116
Emil Jones Jr. (217) 782-2728 (217) 782-3242
Chris Lauzen (217) 782-0052 (217) 782-0052
Kimberly Lightford (217) 782-8505 (217) 782-0715
Terry Link (217) 782-8181 (217) 558-6006
Ed Maloney (217) 782-5145 (217) 782-3213
Iris Y. Martinez (217) 782-8191 (217) 782-2115
James Meeks (217) 782-8066 (217) 782-1172
Antonio Munoz (217) 782-9415 none
Barack Obama (217) 782-5338 (217) 782-6895
William Peterson (217) 782-8010 (217) 782-4885
Edward Petka (217) 782-0422 (217) 782-7818
Christine Radogno (217) 782-9407 (217) 782-9586
Steve Rauschenberger (217) 782-7746 (217) 782-7746
Dale A. Righter (217) 782-6674 (217) 782-9586
Dale E. Risinger (217) 782-1942 (217) 782-9586
Carol Ronen (217) 782-8492 (217) 782-6895
Peter Roskam (217) 782-8022 (217) 782-8022
Dan Rutherford (217) 782-6597 (217) 782-0116
Martin Sandoval (217) 782-5304 (217) 558-6006
Jeffrey Schoenberg (217) 782-2119 (217) 782-2115
George Shadid (217) 782-8250 (217) 782-2331
Todd Sieben (217) 782-0180 (217) 782-4885
Ira Silverstein (217) 782-5500 (217) 782-4885
Ray Soden (217) 782-3840 (217) 782-3331
Dave Sullivan (217) 782-3875 (217) 782-0650
John Sullivan (217) 782-2479 (217) 558-6006
Dave Syverson (217) 782-5413 (217) 782-4079
Donne Trotter (217) 782-3201 (217) 782-8201
Louis Viverito (217) 782-0054 (217) 782-0715
Larry Walsh (217) 782-8800 (217) 782-2331
Frank Watson (217) 782-5755 (217) 782-7818
Patrick Welch (217) 782-8287 (217) 782-5340
Richard Winkel (217) 782-2507 (217) 782-9586
Kathleen Wojcik (217) 782-8192 (217) 782-0116