HR1058 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1058 LRB096 21757 KXB 39562 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Horses bound for slaughter are shipped, frequently for long distances, in a manner that fails to accommodate their unique temperament; they are often not rested, fed, or watered during travel; and

WHEREAS, The Animal Welfare Institute reported that 92.3 percent of horses arriving at slaughter plants in this country in recent years were deemed to be in "good" condition, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Guidelines for Handling and Transporting Equines to Slaughter; and

WHEREAS, The horse slaughter industry makes a greater profit off of healthy horses and therefore purposely seeks out such animals; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of horse rescue organizations operate around the country, and additional facilities are being established to accommodate horses, while sick and elderly horses may be euthanized by a licensed veterinarian; and

WHEREAS, A federal law prohibiting horse slaughter is imperative to ensure slaughterhouses are not allowed to relocate to states with weaker laws and to prevent horses from being exported en masse for slaughter in other countries; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we respectfully urge all members of the Illinois Congressional delegation to oppose the continuation of horse slaughter in the United States; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to oppose new horse slaughter facilities on both the state and national level; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we respectfully urge the United States House of Representatives and Senate to support H.R. 503 and S. 727 of the 111th Congress and to oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the domestic and international transport of live horses or horseflesh for human consumption; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.