Post by shellyr on Sept 21, 2007 15:12:55 GMT -8
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal Court Ruling Ends Horse Slaughter in the United States
(Sept. 21, 2007) — Today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) hailed a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upholding the State of Illinois’ decision to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Illinois is home to the last remaining horse slaughter plant in the country, and the ruling effectively ends all slaughter of horses for food in the United States.
“Today’s court decision marks the end of the line for the foreign-owned horse slaughter industry in the United States,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “Now it’s up to Congress to finish the job and protect American horses from being exported to foreign abattoirs in Canada and Mexico for human consumption overseas.”
In a unanimous ruling, the Court rejected each and every one of Cavel’s legal claims and reiterated that “States have a legitimate interest in prolonging the lives of animals” and promoting the “humane treatment of our fellow animals.”
“This ruling should make the people of Illinois proud to stop the last remaining horse slaughterhouse in the country,” said Illinois State Representative Bob Molaro, one of the key sponsors of the bill. “This was a hard won fight for the legislature, but the fight is not over. I applaud U.S. Rep. Janice Schakowsky for her federal leadership on this issue, and hope that this decision will spur the passage of federal legislation to prevent American horses from being shipped to Mexico or Canada for butchering.”
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the law, which took effect immediately, on May 24. Shortly thereafter, Cavel International, the nation’s only remaining horse slaughter facility, filed suit seeking to block enforcement of the law. Earlier this year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a similar effort by the horse slaughter industry to overturn Texas’ law banning the possession of horse meat for human consumption. In July, the federal district court in Rockford, Illinois upheld the Illinois state law, for substantially the same reasons provided by the Fifth Circuit in the Texas case, and Cavel appealed that decision to the Seventh Circuit.
“This was the final chapter in our successful efforts to close down the last remaining horse slaughterhouse in the United States,” said Illinois State Senator John Cullerton, another key sponsor of the law. “We have finally stopped the slaughter of these majestic creatures.”
The HSUS filed briefing as a friend of the court in the case, and was represented by Schiff Hardin LLP, Belgrade & O'Donnell, P.C. and lawyers with The HSUS' animal protection litigation section. The state law was defended before the court of appeals by Illinois Solicitor Gary Feinerman, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Assistant Attorney General Mary Welsh.
Facts
According to the USDA, 100,800 American horses were slaughtered in three foreign-owned slaughter houses in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), is working to ban horse slaughter nationwide. The legislation would prohibit the export of horses for slaughter.
Timeline
September 21, 2007 - A 3-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit unanimously upholds the Illinois state law banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption in that state.
July 5, 2007 – Judge Frederick J. Kapala of the federal district court in Rockford, Illinois upholds H.B. 1711.
May 28, 2007 – Texas legislature adjourns without taking up legislation that would legalize horse slaughter.
May 24, 2007 – Governor Rod Blagojevich signs H.B. 1711, banning horse slaughter in Illinois.
May 21, 2007 – The United States Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal by the horse slaughter industry in Texas. The industry sought review of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision upholding a 1949 Texas statute that bans horse slaughter.
May 16, 2007 – The Illinois Senate approves legislation to ban horse slaughter by a vote of 39-16.
April 26, 2007 - U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 249 to restore a decades-old ban on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses first enacted under the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, by a vote of 277-137.
April 18, 2007 – The Illinois House of Representatives approves H.B. 1711 to ban the slaughter of American horses in Illinois for human consumption overseas, by nearly a two-to-one margin, a vote of 74-41.
March 29, 2007- A federal district court ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop inspecting horses about to be slaughtered at the Cavel International slaughter plant, effectively closing the last operating horse slaughtering operation in the United States. The order was stayed pending appeal, allowing Cavel to temporarily reopen.
March 20, 2007 – The HSUS files a notice of intent to sue Cavel International for dozens of violations of the Clean Water Act.
January 19, 2007 – A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously upholds a 1949 Texas state law banning the sale of horsemeat for human consumption in that state.
January 17, 2007 – Legislation to ban the slaughter (and export for slaughter) of American horses nationwide, S. 311 and H.R. 503, is introduced by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), John Spratt (D-S.C.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.).
September 7, 2006 – U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, by a vote of 263-146. The 109th Congress adjourns before the Senate can consider the bill.
Media Contact: Heather Sullivan 301.548.7778, hsullivan@humanesociety.org
-30-
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization—backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—On the web at humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
humanesociety.org
Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty
Federal Court Ruling Ends Horse Slaughter in the United States
(Sept. 21, 2007) — Today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) hailed a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upholding the State of Illinois’ decision to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Illinois is home to the last remaining horse slaughter plant in the country, and the ruling effectively ends all slaughter of horses for food in the United States.
“Today’s court decision marks the end of the line for the foreign-owned horse slaughter industry in the United States,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “Now it’s up to Congress to finish the job and protect American horses from being exported to foreign abattoirs in Canada and Mexico for human consumption overseas.”
In a unanimous ruling, the Court rejected each and every one of Cavel’s legal claims and reiterated that “States have a legitimate interest in prolonging the lives of animals” and promoting the “humane treatment of our fellow animals.”
“This ruling should make the people of Illinois proud to stop the last remaining horse slaughterhouse in the country,” said Illinois State Representative Bob Molaro, one of the key sponsors of the bill. “This was a hard won fight for the legislature, but the fight is not over. I applaud U.S. Rep. Janice Schakowsky for her federal leadership on this issue, and hope that this decision will spur the passage of federal legislation to prevent American horses from being shipped to Mexico or Canada for butchering.”
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the law, which took effect immediately, on May 24. Shortly thereafter, Cavel International, the nation’s only remaining horse slaughter facility, filed suit seeking to block enforcement of the law. Earlier this year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a similar effort by the horse slaughter industry to overturn Texas’ law banning the possession of horse meat for human consumption. In July, the federal district court in Rockford, Illinois upheld the Illinois state law, for substantially the same reasons provided by the Fifth Circuit in the Texas case, and Cavel appealed that decision to the Seventh Circuit.
“This was the final chapter in our successful efforts to close down the last remaining horse slaughterhouse in the United States,” said Illinois State Senator John Cullerton, another key sponsor of the law. “We have finally stopped the slaughter of these majestic creatures.”
The HSUS filed briefing as a friend of the court in the case, and was represented by Schiff Hardin LLP, Belgrade & O'Donnell, P.C. and lawyers with The HSUS' animal protection litigation section. The state law was defended before the court of appeals by Illinois Solicitor Gary Feinerman, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Assistant Attorney General Mary Welsh.
Facts
According to the USDA, 100,800 American horses were slaughtered in three foreign-owned slaughter houses in 2006. Another 30,000 were sent to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), is working to ban horse slaughter nationwide. The legislation would prohibit the export of horses for slaughter.
Timeline
September 21, 2007 - A 3-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit unanimously upholds the Illinois state law banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption in that state.
July 5, 2007 – Judge Frederick J. Kapala of the federal district court in Rockford, Illinois upholds H.B. 1711.
May 28, 2007 – Texas legislature adjourns without taking up legislation that would legalize horse slaughter.
May 24, 2007 – Governor Rod Blagojevich signs H.B. 1711, banning horse slaughter in Illinois.
May 21, 2007 – The United States Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal by the horse slaughter industry in Texas. The industry sought review of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision upholding a 1949 Texas statute that bans horse slaughter.
May 16, 2007 – The Illinois Senate approves legislation to ban horse slaughter by a vote of 39-16.
April 26, 2007 - U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 249 to restore a decades-old ban on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses first enacted under the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, by a vote of 277-137.
April 18, 2007 – The Illinois House of Representatives approves H.B. 1711 to ban the slaughter of American horses in Illinois for human consumption overseas, by nearly a two-to-one margin, a vote of 74-41.
March 29, 2007- A federal district court ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop inspecting horses about to be slaughtered at the Cavel International slaughter plant, effectively closing the last operating horse slaughtering operation in the United States. The order was stayed pending appeal, allowing Cavel to temporarily reopen.
March 20, 2007 – The HSUS files a notice of intent to sue Cavel International for dozens of violations of the Clean Water Act.
January 19, 2007 – A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously upholds a 1949 Texas state law banning the sale of horsemeat for human consumption in that state.
January 17, 2007 – Legislation to ban the slaughter (and export for slaughter) of American horses nationwide, S. 311 and H.R. 503, is introduced by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), John Spratt (D-S.C.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.).
September 7, 2006 – U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, by a vote of 263-146. The 109th Congress adjourns before the Senate can consider the bill.
Media Contact: Heather Sullivan 301.548.7778, hsullivan@humanesociety.org
-30-
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization—backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—On the web at humanesociety.org
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
humanesociety.org
Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty