Good News! Reps. Carter, Fitzpatrick, Cohen, Titus and Katko have filed an amendment to the surface transportation INVEST in America Act that will halt the transport of horses intended for slaughter. This amendment will stop the movement of horses for slaughter on the nation’s highways, thus halting horse slaughter in the US while also preventing our horses from being shipped to Canada and Mexico. Return to Freedom worked closely with the amendment sponsors and Committee to ensure the legislation is successful and halts horse slaughter.
Ending slaughter is not the only RTF equine priority included in the INVEST Act. The Committee has already acted in favor of language offered by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) that will ban the use of double-deck livestock trailers when hauling horses. This horrible practice was halted by the USDA when hauling horses to slaughter, but it is still legal for all other horses. We commend the Committee for recognizing this loophole and accepting language to ensure no horses end up on double-deck trailers. Unfortunately, an amendment has been offered by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) to strip the language from the bill.
The full House of Representatives is expected to act on the INVEST Act by next week, and we want to let everyone in Congress know that passage is especially important.
TAKE ACTION: CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AT (202) 224-3121. URGE THEM TO VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 187 (slaughter), NO ON AMENDMENT 184 (double-decker trailers), AND TO SUPPORT