The House of Representatives passed the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2744) on June 8. Included in the bill was amendment 236, which will end funding for horse slaughter plant inspectors during the 2006 federal fiscal year.

The amendment states: “An amendment to prohibit the use of funds in the bill to pay salaries and expenses of personnel to inspect horses under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or under the guidelines issued under the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.”

Without U.S. government inspectors in the horse processing plants, the horse meat cannot be sold for U.S. human consumption. The hope by anti-slaughter advocates is that this action will cause the three remaining U.S. horse slaughter facilities to close.

An emotional debate ensued on the Congressional floor when John Sweeney (R-NY) proposed the amendment. “Americans do not profit from slaughtering horses. Horses are not bred in the United States for that purpose,” he said, “This amendment simply says that the use of American taxpayer dollars to pay for the salaries and the work of USDA inspectors ought to stop, and those resources ought to be committed to making sure the food supply and the food chain here in this country are fully protected