(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced today that Congress is one step closer to answering his call to end a ban on U.S. horse slaughter plants.

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee moved forward on a bill that will allow the USDA to inspect horse slaughter plants.  Having heard rising concerns about horse welfare and the harmful economic impacts of the ban, Baucus asked the independent and non-partisan Government Accountability Office to conduct a full report on the impacts of the ban. The GAO report revealed numerous unintended and harmful impacts of the ban on the economy and horses as well.

 "We've seen some pretty shocking cases across Montana of horse abandonment and neglect as owners face tough economic times. This ban is a part of the problem and has resulted in the inhumane treatment of injured and sick horses along with hurting the economy. We have an opportunity here to do the right thing for our farmers and ranchers while improving the welfare of horses," Baucus said.

The Accountability Office's findings, show the ban on U.S. horse slaughter plants has caused a drop in American horse prices and sales and the market has shifted to Canada and Mexico. As a result, overall horse welfare has declined, putting a strain on state, local, and tribal animal welfare resources, and the Accountability Office noted a rise in cases of horse abandonment, abuse, and neglect since the ban was instated. The report also notes that U.S. horses, often suffering from injury or illness, are being transported greater distances to be slaughtered in places where they are not protected by U.S. humane slaughter protections.

TIMELINE

• 2006 - Congress enacted a de facto ban on U.S. horse slaughter in the Agriculture Appropriations bills by not allowing U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to be used to inspect the plants. Because the plants cannot ship meat across state lines without being inspected, the ban on inspection has resulted in a ban on domestic horse slaughter.

• 2009 - Baucus included a provision in the fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill requiring the Accountability office to perform a study on the impacts of the ban.

• June 22, 2011 - The full Government Accountability Office report, available HERE, "Horse Welfare: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter" is released.

• June 28, 2011 - Baucus calls on the chairman of the appropriations subcommittees on agriculture to review the report and end the ban. Text of the letter is available HERE.

Contact: Kate Downen (406) 224-5056/Jennifer Donohue (202) 224-2651/Kathy Weber (406) 329-3123

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