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February
4, 2008
Letter From Congressman Ciro
Rodriguez about Horse and Burro Protection
House Bills 503 and 249
I called Congressman
Ciro Rodriguez's office a few days ago to ask what his position is on
HR 503, which would prevent the slaughter of horses for human
consumption. This bill was passed by the House and is now in the
Senate, according to Congressman Rodriguez, where it has been for
nearly a year.
We urge you
to contact your senators and any others regarding HR 503, and a related
bill, HR 249, which would protect wild free-roaming horse and burro
populations.
This is the
Congressman's prompt and responsive reply:
"February 1, 2008
Dear Mrs. McNamara,
Thank you for contacting me in regard to your support for the
prohibition of the slaughter of equines. I welcome your comments, value
your input and share your concerns.
Horses have long been an icon of our national history. Indeed, this is
particularly true in Texas where the wild horse has been transformed
into a cultural symbol and is characteristically found in local
folklore, literature, art, and works of history.
Like you, I condemn the abuse and exploitation of animals. The recent
articles published in the San Antonio Express graphically illustrated
the sad and horrific practice of horse slaughtering taking place in our
neighboring country. I commend the attention being given to this
deplorable practice, and I appreciate your anxiousness to see something
done to resolve it.
As you well know, H.R. 503 would effectively eliminate the commercial
slaughter of horses for human consumption by amending the Horse
Protection Act. Should this bill reach the House floor for a vote, you
can count on my support.
A related bill, H.R. 249, would protect wild free-roaming horse and
burro populations from sale or slaughter. The horse population is
already strained by the cycles of drought, wildfire, and overgrazing.
The wild horse belongs to the land, and serves the public as a reminder
of our local heritage - not to companies looking to cut profits at the
expense of a public good. You will be pleased to know the bill was
passed on April 26, 2007 and is currently under review in the Senate.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me.
Should you have any further questions about this or any other matter,
please do not hesitate to contact my
office.
Sincerely,
Ciro D. Rodriguez
Member of Congress"
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