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Missouri Equine Council, Inc.
Uniting Missouri's Horse Industry
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Archived Equine Legislative Issues
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FEDERAL HR 6598-PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT OF 2008
Introduced on May 1, 2008, this bill would criminalize the
possession, transport, sale, delivery, or receiving in interstate or
foreign commerce of a horse or horsemeat with the intent that it be
used for human consumption. It would thus apply to the transport and
sale of horses for slaughter in the U.S. or a foreign country.
Penalties would include fines and/or one year imprisonment for a
first offense or one involving five or fewer horses. Offenses
involving more than five horses or repeat offenders would face
increased fines and/or up to three years imprisonment. The Attorney
General would take custody of any horses seized under the bill and
provide for their placement or disposition. The bill amends Title 18
of the U.S. criminal code, which deals with animal cruelty
prohibitions.
Because MEC supports humane regulated equine slaughter through
its equine welfare policy, we are actively opposing this bill.
Additionally, the bill makes no provisions for dealing with the
large quantity of unwanted horses. Nor does the bill provide any
means to pay for their care. The title of this bill misleads people
into thinking this bill will help protect horses from abuse, but its
passage will do just the opposite.
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MISSOURI SB 931 SECTION 144.063-SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FENCING
AND FUEL
This act creates a sales tax exemption for the purchase of fencing
materials and motor fuel, when such material or fuel is to be used
for agricultural purposes.
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MISSOURI SB 931 SECTION 267.168-NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION
SYSTEM
The State of Missouri may support a voluntary animal identification
program. The act prohibits the Missouri Department of Agriculture
from mandating premise registration under the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's national Animal Identification System (NAIS) program
unless the Department is specifically statutorily authorized to do
so.
Participants in the NAIS may withdraw from the program at any time
and all of their personal information shall be deleted at the time
of withdrawal unless a participant is part of an ongoing disease
investigation. The Governor may waive the provisions of this section
if the provisions interfere with the marketing of Missouri
livestock.
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SCR 35 Passes the Missouri Senate!
On May 5, 2008 Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR 35 passed the
Missouri Senate. This resolution urges the U.S. Congress to support
the continuation of horse processing in the United States and offer
incentives to help create horse processing plants throughout the
country. The resolution encourages the U.S. Congress to oppose two
federal bills, S. 311 and H.R. 503, which relate to the slaughtering
of horses and other equine animals for human consumption.
The Concurrent Resolution passed 28 to 5. Those Senators voting "No"
were, Dempsey, Graham, Rupp, Smith and Wilson. If these are your
Senators do your part and write, call or email them expressing your
disappointment. If your Senator is not one of these five, write,
email or phone them to express your approval at their vote. Phone
calls do make a difference! MEC was told that the Senate was
inundated with phone calls regarding this issue.
This Concurrent Resolution is headed for the Missouri House next.
Contact your legislators now and let's get this Resolution on it's
way to oppose the slaughter ban in the U.S. Congress! If you don't
know who your senator is, enter your nine digit zip code in the
Legislator Locator on the lower left side of this page. We need to
band together for the welfare of our horses and our industry. By
contacting your legislators, you can help prevent U.S. horses from
being neglected, turned loose to fend for themselves or being sent
to Mexican Slaughter Plants. It will only take a few minutes of your
time and will help ensure a humane death for thousands of unwanted
horses in our country.
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Proceedings from the Unwanted Horse Forum
in DC
Click here to read. |
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MO HB 1438 - Missouri House Bill 1438 “Use of Public Lands”
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