URGENT! ILLINOIS HOUSE TO HOLD HEARING ON HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL
February 16, 2010
Here We Go Again:
Dear Humanitarian,
Your help is once again needed in order to preserve the 2007 Illinois ban on horse slaughter which ultimately resulted in the closure of the last remaining horse slaughter plant in the United States.
HB 4812, sponsored by Illinois State Rep. Jim Sacia, would repeal the state ban, paving the way for horse slaughter to once again rear its ugly head in Illinois. Every year since the Illinois General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill banning horse slaughter in the State, Rep. Sacia has attempted to overturn this responsible legislation and reestablish an industry well known for its widespread abuse of equines. We are at a loss to explain his support of this abusive industry or his persistence in advocating for it.
It is unfortunate that the Illinois General Assembly and individuals from Illinois and around the country must continue dealing with this issue year after year, but we must remain vigilant against any and all attempts to overturn the 2007 ban on horse slaughter. It is a shame that our limited resources must be used to repeatedly engage in this fight, rather than expend the resources further protecting horses.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The Illinois House Agriculture & Conservation Committee will hold a hearing on February 23, 2010 2:00PM. If your representative is on the Committee, please call her/him immediately in opposition to HB 4812. To find contact information for Agriculture & Conservation Committee members, visit http://www.ilga.gov/house/committees/members.asp?committeeID=626 or see below.
If your representative is not on this Committee, please take a minute to call or email her/him in opposition to HB 4812 as soon as possible. Visit http://www.ilga.gov/house/ to find your legislator and her/his contact information. For more information on horse slaughter you may visit http://www.awionline.org.
For your convenience, below is a list of talking points to aid in placing calls and drafting emails. Again, please take action for the horses today. They are counting on us!!
Talking Points:
* Please apologize for having to call your representative on this issue yet again. The Illinois General Assembly resolved this issue back in 2007, but Rep. Sacia continues to take up everybody’s time with this unpopular bill.
* Strongly oppose HB 4812 because horse slaughter is a cruel and unnecessary practice.
* The Illinois General Assembly banned horse slaughter by an overwhelming majority in 2007, and Rep. Sacia’s bill, HB 4812, must be rejected. There is no evidence to support Rep. Sacia’s claims that the slaughterhouse closure has led to an increase in horse abandonment or abuse. Horse slaughter itself is abuse.
* Ending horse slaughter stopped an overt form of animal cruelty and has only been good for the horses. The state ban is important.
* The animal welfare community, equine rescues and the majority of Illinois residents DO NOT support the overturning of this ban no matter what Rep. Sacia may claim.
* If Rep. Sacia actually cared about the welfare of horses he would support the federal ban on horse slaughter which would stop the export of horses from the U.S.
Please ask your representative to urge Rep. Sacia to discontinue his attempts to overturn the horse slaughter bill. Your representative should also urge Rep. Sacia to support the federal bill, Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S.727), in order to truly advance the welfare of equines in Illinois if he is truly concerned with the welfare of our horses. H.R. 503/S.727 ensures horses from Illinois and all over the U.S. will no longer be hauled to Canada or Mexico for slaughter.
Please forward this “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert to all family, friends, colleagues and fellow horse enthusiasts! Also, please take a minute to visit AWI’s Compassion Index (www.awionline.org/takeaction) and take action on the federal Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S. 727).
Thank you for all you do on behalf of the horses!
Chris Heyde
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs
Animal Welfare Institute
House Agriculture & Conservation Committee
Representative Brandon W. Phelps (D), Chairman – (217) 782-5131
Representative Patrick J. Verschoore (D), Vice-chair – (217) 782-5970
Representative Jim Sacia (R), (217) 782-8186 (bill sponsor)
Representative John D. Cavaletto (R), (217) 782-0066
Representative Shane Cultra (R), (217) 558-1039
Representative Lisa M. Dugan (D), (217) 782-5981
Representative Robert F. Flider (D), (217) 782-8398
Representative Mary E. Flowers (D), (217) 782-4207
Representative Julie Hamos (D), (217) 782-8052
Representative Donald L. Moffitt (R), (217) 782-8032
Representative Richard P. Myers (R), (217) 782-0416
Representative David Reis (R), (217) 782-2087
Representative Dan Reitz (D), (217) 782-1018
