Horse slaughter defund extended

Good news from Capitol Hill. After months of wrangling over dozens of riders and spending levels, Congress has just released an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government until September 30, 2016 and included our annual language defunding horse slaughter inspections by the USDA. This language, first included back in 2005, continues to block the opening of new slaughterhouses in the US. The President is expected to sign the bill immediately.

It was a long fight to ensure the defund language was contained in the package, but we are pleased Congress listened to the people and stood by this important language. While this language will only last for a year, it will prevent plants from opening and give us time to work towards passage of the SAFE Act which is critical to permanently ban horse slaughter and ensure horses aren't exported for the same purpose.

Thanks to everyone for your hard work on the defund language. Tomorrow we start even harder on passage of the SAFE Act. Please take a moment to send an email to Congress urging support for the SAFE Act!

CHRIS HEYDE