ASI Signs Horse Letter

December 7, 2007 - The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) joined other agriculture groups by adding its name to a letter urging the members of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies to reject Section 738 of the U.S. House of Representatives version of the appropriations bill. Section 738 would withhold U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for the transport, inspection and certification of horses moving in interstate and international commerce.

With the welfare of horses based to a large degree on the many safety nets that the USDA has set up to protect the health and well-being of the domestic horse population, this provision would dramatically impact the authority and ability of the USDA to maintain those protections because it would deny funds for the various inspections required under current federal law for all horses.

The communication states further that there is serious concern that this incremental removal of USDA authority to oversee the health and wellbeing of horses will compromise or restrict the secretary of agriculture's ability to administer laws related to not only the humane transportation but also important regional animal disease programs.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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