TODAY'S THE DAY ~ CALL-IN FOR THE HORSES!

[redstar]

*PLEASE CROSS POST
FAR & WIDE *

The time is here to do or die. We either get the bill passed into law now - or horses will be trucked to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered.

Please call and fax - for the horses.

OUR STRATEGY -

Liz Craddock (she is assigned to Bill S.311 in Senator Mary Landrieu's office) provided the following status & strategy for us):

Bill S.311 is currently residing in the Science, Commerce & Transportation Committee. There are 11 of 23 committee members who will vote "YES" for this Bill to be released for a vote on the Senate floor. That means one more vote is needed for this to happen Wednesday, April 25th - We are ONE VOTE SHORT.

Since this vote is "too close to call" as far as a majority vote, there is a quick, simple strategy for us unt il Tuesday, April 24th (this request to call the Senators below comes directly from Senator Landrieu's office).

PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING SENATORS ON THIS COMMITTE AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT BILL S.311:*
Senator Bill Nelson, FL - (202)-224-5274 or Fax: [phone]
Senator Jim DeMint, SC - (202)-224-6121 or Fax: [phone]
Senator John Rockefeller, W. VA - (202)-224-6472 or Fax: [phone]
* These Senators were co-sponsors of these Bills in 2006 (and have not co-sponsored this year) or they are "fence-sitters.

[redstar]

April 20, 2007



Congress to consider two bills

to protect horses next week
Your Help Is Urgently Needed





Dear Humanitarian:

1. AMERICAN HORSE SLAUGHTER PREVENTION ACT



On April 25, the US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a mark-up for S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA). At the mark-up, Committee members will decide on the language of a measure they expect to report to the full Senate.

While support on the Senate Commerce Committee is strong, it is critical that all Committee member including cosponsors of this bill hear from an outpouring of constituents. Please urge the members of the Committee to stand strong against any misinformation that is being spread by pro-horse slaughter groups and individuals. Ask all members of the Committee to vote in favor of S. 311 and encourage Senate leadership to move the bill swiftly to the full Senate for consideration. If your own Senator is on the Committee it is especially important for you to contact him/her. Two years ago, the US Senate voted overwhelming to stop horse slaughter for a year; S. 311 will ensure that the practice is stopped permanently.



2. A BILL TO RESTORE THE PROHIBITION ON THE COMMERCIAL SALE AND SLAUGHTER OF WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS



In the House of Representatives, Members of Congress will have an opportunity to take a stand for wild horses when H.R. 249 comes up for a vote on Thursday. Introduced by Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV), this bill would stop the commercial exploitation and slaughter of wild horses by repealing the 2004 “Burns rider” and restoring the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act to its original language.



Passage of these bills is critical to the welfare of America’s horses. Congress has spoken out several times against the slaughter of both wild and domestic horses, and now they must take a stand to keep our horses safe forever.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

A. Please call and fax members of the Senate Commerce Committee TODAY, urging them to vote “YES” on S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. If they are currently cosponsoring the bill, also ask them to speak out on behalf of this important measure during the mark-up and persuade their colleagues to join them in support. Feel free to refer to the facts about horse slaughter listed below.

For a complete listing of committee members and their contact information, click here: www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=About.Members. To learn more about our campaign to stop horse slaughter for human consumption, please visit www.saplonline.org/horses.htm.

B. Please contact your Representative as well, asking that he or she vote “YES” on H.R. 249 to restore protections for wild horses when the measure comes to the House floor for a vote next Thursday. For more information on these animals’ plight and how to contact your Representative, please click here: www.saplonline.org/w_horses.htm.

Additionally, please share this eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact the Commerce Committee Senators and their Representatives, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!



Sincerely,

Cathy Liss

Legislative Director

www.saplonline.org

www.compassionindex.org



Sign up for SAPL eAlerts to receive the latest legislative

news on what you can do to help us protect all animals www.saplonline.org/action.htm.



________________________________





FACTS AND FAQ's ABOUT HORSE SLAUGHTER

Last year, three foreign-owned slaughter plants cruelly slaughtered more than 100,000 horses for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Tens of thousands more of America’s horses were exported from the United States and slaughtered in other countries.
Slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia. Horses suffer horribly on the way to and during slaughter.
Passage of the AHSPA will reduce animal suffering ­hence its wide support throughout the equestrian and veterinary world, as well as the humane community.
Americans overwhelmingly support an end to horse slaughter for human consumption. In California, a 1998 ballot initiative to ban horse slaughter for human consumption passed with 60 percent of the vote.
Animal cruelty is NOT a property rights issue. It is illegal to abuse and neglect any animal, and horse slaughter is one of many tragic forms of animal cruelty.
A recent ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Texas law making the operation of the two Texas plants illegal.
The US District Court recently ruled that the US Department of Agriculture scheme that allowed the horse slaughter facilities to hire their own inspectors is a violation federal law. All plants were ordered to close immediately.
Horse slaughter has been stopped temporarily in the United States, but could resume without passage of the AHSPA. Horses are still being shipped to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, causing even greater suffering.

[afinenettle]

Concerning the 3 congressmen that need to be contacted ASAP:
If you go to their websites (google each name) - you can send an email directly to them. Here is mine. Hope it isnt too ...um...strident or rude. (Ill never get a date this way....) Anyway ya'll will do your own, Im sure. Needs to be right away.


Please support Bill S311 to ban horse slaughter of American horses for human consumption AND disallow their transport across national boundaries for slaughter. There is a very large and growing grass roots movement dedicated to a remedy for this oversite in equine protection. We do not ship our dogs and cats to Asia and we WILL NOT TOLERATE THE CREATION of an equine breeding industry for meat. Lobbyists for these businesses cannot defeat this mobilization. History has many examples of the futility of trying to address this kind of widespread grass roots mobilization by manipulating information. We are aware of the disinformation the pro-slaughter industry is spreading. Please be sure you are VERY INFORMED concerning this kind of information. We keep track of what lobbyists are doing and how each Congressperson votes on these issues.
Thank you

[supaloma]

Bumping this urgent message to our members.

Geri

[pikzeedust]

Consider it done! I forwarded this to my friends and family as well. Let's pray for this.

[Admin]

1,269 Horses were shipped across the boarder to Mexico from the US last week alone!

www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AL_LS635.txt

[lowland]

I have called the offices and here are the responses. Make your voices heard! It is a really simple thing to do. The aids are pleasant. Thank them for their support in the past and that you would like the Senator to support S-311. We NEED their vote on Wednesday to protect America's horses.

Here is what I heard out of the offices this morning, while promising, it would be better if they would take a strong position:

From the offices:

DeMint -- rep "believed" he would sign on (this is my home state and I can say that DeMint does tend to be animal friendly)

Rockerfeller -- knew the vote to get out of committee was Wed. and had not spoken to the Senator directly about his vote but had been fielding "many calls" on the subect.

Nelson -- had not publicly come out with a position but rep noted that the Senator has "always supported horse and animal rights initiatives."

[jenm]

All~

If you really want to make an impact, may I suggest you join an organized calling list. I recently joined the California group and it's been fantastic. Each week a call list is sent out and after calls are made, people email the group with their findings. The calling needs to be done on a continual basis, not just when National Call In Days are announced.

The 3 Senators lowland posted were all on my call list this week as were 3 more from Southern California.

If you would like to join a call list or perhaps be a state leader, please email Stephanie: [e-mail]

As I recall, she still needs leaders in the PNW!

[NanciK]

The Pro-Slaughter constituency is going ALL OUT this week to defeat the Ban on Horse Slaughter, including this piece:

www.commonhorsesense.com/pdf/AWC_UnintendedConsequence.pdf

Check this site for insights about what the "other side" is thinking and doing as a counter-attack on the Anti-Slaughter folks:
www.commonhorsesense.com/

[Admin]

Shut Down Horse Slaughter Plants for Good

This week will be a make-or-break time in Congress for horses.
Thanks to our work in two federal courts, the last three horse slaughter plants in the United States, all foreign owned, have been shut down for now. But we are not in the clear just yet. In order to permanently ban horse slaughter in the United States, and to prohibit horses from being exported for slaughter, where they face longer transports and an even more grisly death, Congress must enact permanent protections for horses.

Starting on Tuesday morning, April 24, we need everyone who cares about ending horse slaughter to call Congress as part of our National Call-In Day.

TAKE ACTION

On Thursday, April 26, a bill (H.R. 249) to restore protections for wild horses from commercial sale and slaughter will be brought up for a vote in the full House of Representatives. Your U.S. Representative must hear from you. Please call the Capitol switchboard at [phone] and ask to be connected to your Representative or click here to look up your Representative and the office phone number.

When you make your call, you can say: "Hello, my name is [your name] and I'm calling from [your town] to urge [legislator's name] to save our wild horses from being sold and sent to slaughter by voting YES on H.R. 249." After you make your call, click here to send a follow-up email.

Thank you for taking action to save horses. We have made tremendous progress, and thousands of horses have already been saved from slaughter. But we need to finish the job and shutter this barbaric business for good.
Sincerely,




Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
P.S. You can help spread the word about the National Call-In Day on Tuesday. Click here to download a flyer (PDF) to pass out to your friends and colleagues.

[pikzeedust]

I got 10 friends and family members to call and email the Senators. Senator Jim Demint is supporting the bill according to his office.

[Tate]

I've spammed every single person in my address book several times today to get the point across, resorted to begging also.

[NanciK]

~~~ FROM THE ASPCA ~~~

Dear Animal Advocates,
Over the past year, we have been sending you alerts regarding the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and protections for our nation’s wild horses and burros. With two major events scheduled in the U.S. Congress this week, it is now more important than ever for your legislators to hear from you. Let’s protect our wild equines, and permanently ban horse slaughter in United States of America!

Thank you for taking action for America's animals.


1. Please call your senators and ask them to support S.311
On Wednesday, April 25, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will meet to “mark-up” S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize the language of the Act that will be presented to the full Senate for a vote.
The ASPCA is asking everyone to please call your senators and ask them to vote in favor of S. 311.

Look up your senators' phone numbers.

Below are some talking points to assist you when you speak to your senator:
- Last year, three foreign-owned slaughter plants (two in Texas, one in Illinois) killed more than 90,000 horses for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Tens of thousands more of America's horses were exported from the U.S. and slaughtered in other countries.
- Slaughter is NOT humane euthanasia. Horses suffer horribly on the way to and during slaughter.
- Passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act will reduce animal suffering—hence its wide support throughout the equestrian and veterinary world, as well as the humane community.
- Americans overwhelmingly support an end to horse slaughter for human consumption. Polls from Kentucky, Virginia, Texas and Utah show that 82, 74, 72 and 69 percent, respectively, of those questioned oppose the practice. In California, a 1998 ballot initiative (Prop. 6) banning horse slaughter for human consumption passed with 60 percent of the vote.
It is critical that you contact your senators immediately to express your support for S. 311—particularly if they are on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Please click here to see if one of your senators is on this committee. If your senator is on the committee, please urge him or her to speak out against any misinformation being presented by groups that want to see horse slaughter continue and to move the bill to the full Senate for a vote right away! 2. Ask your representative to support H.R. 249
This Thursday, April 26, an important equine-related bill is expected to come up for a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 249 would restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of America’s wild free-roaming horses and burros. Please call your representative today and urge him or her to vote “YES” on H.R. 249.

Look up your representatives' phone numbers.
Below are some talking points to assist you when you speak to your representative:
- Wild and free-roaming horses and burros used to be defended by the Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971.
- The 2004 “Burns Amendment”—inserted into a must-pass agricultural appropriations bill—undid 33 years of vital protections for America’s wild horses. This amendment forced the Bureau of Land Management to allow individuals and corporations to buy these animals and resell them for slaughter.
- H.R. 249 would restore much-needed safeguards for America’s wild horses and burros.

This is the moment we’ve been working toward! Please contact your representative immediately to show your support for H.R. 249.

Thank you for your support on this issue.

[imabirdmom]

I'm proud to say Senator Cantwell is a co-sponsor of the bill so a definite YES from her office!

[watermarkfarm]

I just called all three.

PLEASE follow up with a fax. Just one line is all that is needed, feel free to plagiarize:

Dear Senator X:

I am writing to ask your support and co-sponsorship of S. 311.

Thank you for your past efforts on the part of slaughter-bound horses!

Sincerely,

Katie Moore

[Admin]

This station in Ohio is doing an investigative segment tonight on slaughter. Here is a clip! CALL YOUR LOCAL STATIONS and request they air it !!!


www.woio.com/Global/SearchResults.asp?vendor=wss&qu=horse+slaughter

Call the station directly and THANK THEM!!!!

[phone] or [phone]

[redstar]

***************************************************************************
> Call the UNDECIDED list and ask them to support - It's critical, we need
>
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> them tomorrow!
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> Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (HI) - UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-3934
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> FAX [phone]
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> John D. Rockefeller, IV (WV) - UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-6472
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> FAX [phone]
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> John F. Kerry (MA) - YES
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> 202-224-2742
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> FAX [phone]
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> Byron L. Dorgan (ND)- NO
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> 202-224-2551
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> FAX [phone]
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> Barbara Boxer (CA)- YES
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> 202-224-3553
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> Bill Nelson (FL) - UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-5274
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> FAX [phone]
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> Maria Cantwell (WA)- YES
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> 202-224-3441
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> FAX [phone]
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> Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ) - YES
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> 202-224-3224
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> FAX [phone]
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> Mark Pryor (AR)- UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-2353
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> Fax [phone]
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> Thomas Carper (DE)- YES
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> 202-224-2441
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> FAX [phone]
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> Claire McCaskill (MO) - YES
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> 202-224-6154
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> Amy Klobuchar (MN) - UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-3244
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> Republicans
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> Vice Chairman Ted Stevens(AK) - YES
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> 202-224-3004
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> FAX [phone]
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> John McCain (AZ) - YES
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> 202-224-2235
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> FAX [phone]
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> Trent Lott (MS) - YES
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> 202-224-6253
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> FAX [phone]
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> Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) - Couldn't reach anyone there
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> 202-224-5922
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> FAX [phone]
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> Olympia J. Snowe (ME) - YES
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> 202-224-5344
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> FAX [phone]
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> Gordon Smith (OR) - UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-3753
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> FAX [phone]
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> John Ensign (NV) - YES
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> 202-224-6244
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> FAX [phone]
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> John E. Sununu (NH) - UNDECIDED
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> 202-224-2841
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> FAX [phone]
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> Jim DeMint (SC) - YES
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> 202-224-6121
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> FAX [phone]
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> David Vitter (LA) - UNDECIDED
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> 202 224-4623
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> FAX [phone]
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> John Thune (SD) - NO
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> 202-224-2321
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> FAX [phone]

[NanciK]

I faxed every single one this morning.

[countrygirl]

When will they actually be voting on the bill?

[redstar]

On April 25, the US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee will hold a mark-up for S. 311, the American Horse
Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA). At the mark-up, Committee members
will decide on the language of a measure they expect to report to the
full Senate.

We don't know the exact date of the vote........we need to ask they keep the original language!

[NanciK]

IT PASSED 15-7, NO AMMENDMENTS !!

[imabirdmom]

nancik said:

IT PASSED 15-7, NO AMMENDMENTS !!

OH THANK GOD!!!! I can't believe it I'm crying!!

[redstar]

Off to the Senate.........we will see the end of this crime this year!!!

[imabirdmom]

Well said redstar! I'm so glad to see it wasn't even a close vote.

[redstar]

I should post this here as well.........another win for the horses!!!!

Another great day! HR.249 has just passed the House by 277 to 136!
It passed without amendments.

[countrygirl]

Could you please clarify - did they actually take a vote or did it pass in the committee with no amendments and now go to the floor for a vote? Thanks.

[redstar]

Yes, the committee both bills, now to the floor.

I truly believe we are over the worst hurdle it will pass; we will see the end of all this horror!

[countrygirl]

Redstar, do we have any idea when they will make the final vote?? Thanks for the info.

[redstar]

Not at this point, as soon as I hear I will post immediately.........can't be fast enough that much I believe we all feel!

[redstar]

Here is a little info from someone who knows much more than I about the voting process.....


"We can be sure that one of the evil
Senators has put a secret hold on it (Burns is rumored to have done it
last time), so the first thing will be a cloture vote in the Senate. That
means that 3/5th of the Senators (60) will have to agree to letting it
go to the floor before it can be brought to a vote.

There is only speculation on a time frame, but things are moving
extremely fast compared to the 109th Congress. We did not get it out of the
House Commerce committee until September of the second year! My guess
is it will happen before July, but that is just a guess."

I would say keeping the e-mails going whether it is thank you or a plea for in favor of would be a good thing until the bill goes to the floor.........and then of course hitting hard right before.

I hope this helps some, our senate confuses the daylights out of most of us at least it does me...I didn't know a hold could be put on a bill in secret.

Lets continue to fight and pray for the horses!