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[RC] 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations - Gotarace2

From: usef@xxxxxxxx <  usef@xxxxxxxx>
Date: 28 Jul 2007 01:49:41 -0400
Subject: House Bill  Could Cut US Quarantine and Import Funding
To:  cvandeusen@xxxxxxxxx


Dear USEF Members, 
The horse industry needs  your help with contacting the U.S House of 
Representatives on a matter vital to  the health and welfare of our horses. 
The House of Representatives is  scheduled to vote on the 2008 Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug  Administration Appropriations bill (H.R. 
3161), which would fund the U.S.  Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 
2008, 
early next week. 
Section 738  of that bill would be devastating because it would cut-off 
funding for USDA  activities important to the horse industry. It would 
eliminate 
funding necessary  for USDA to operate quarantine facilities and to pay 
personnel to approve and  facilitate the import and export of horses for 
exhibition, 
competition, sale or  breeding. The bill would not only cut off direct funding 
to USDA, but also  eliminate USDA's authority to impose user fees, which 
support the operation of  the three major USDA Animal Import Centers and the 
land 
border ports along the  Canadian and Mexican borders. 
We are asking AHC member organizations to  contact Members of Congress from 
their state asking that this provision be  removed. 
NOTE: Although the language is an apparent attempt by proponents of  
legislation to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption by taking the  
USDA 
out of the process, as was done last year, the language in Section 738  would 
have a far broader impact and would affect the movement of all horses.  
While an individual's or organization's position on limiting USDA's  
authority to inspect horses for slaughter may be based on their position on the 

federal bill banning slaughter, the industry should be opposed to this  
overly-broad limit on USDA's authority and economic ability to protect animal  
health 
through inspection, quarantine and oversight of the movement of all  horses. 
The AHC is opposed to this language for animal health reasons and  because it 
would have an extremely adverse effect on important equine activities  and 
commerce. The AHC supports the effort to have it removed when the House  
considers the USDA Appropriations bill. 
We are asking AHC members and  individuals to do the same. Contacts are 
needed to all Members of the House.  When contacting your Representative, 
please 
fax or e-mail your letter to him or  her. If you do not know your 
Representative's contact information, you can find  it at the House website at 
http://www.house.gov/. Type in your zip code and  follow the instructions. Or 
you can call 
the AHC. 
See below for a draft  letter that you can personalize. 
Please fax or e-mail the American Horse  Council copies of any letters you 
send to Congress. The AHC fax number is  202-296-1970. E-mails can be sent to 
ahc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Please call the  American Horse Council (202) 296-4031 if you have any 
questions. 
DRAFT  LETTER: 
Date 
The Honorable (insert your Congressman's name)
U.S.  House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 
Dear Representative…..:  
I am writing to you because of Section 738 in the 2008 Agriculture, Rural  
Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill (H.R. 3161). That 

section would be devastating to the horse industry. It should be removed when 
you consider the bill. 
I live in ………. and am involved in the horse industry  ……… [Describe 
your 
involvement, for example, owner, breeder, racing, showing,  veterinarian, 
farrier, race track, etc. If you have economic information about  the size of 
the 
industry in your state, include it. You can look at the AHC  website - 
www.horsecouncil.org - for some states. If you are writing for an  
organization, 
indicate how many members you have and what your activities  involve. If you 
have 
any events, shows, races, sales, breeding or activities  that could involve 
horses from other countries or your horses leaving the U.S.,  please note them 
since they would be affected by this provision.] 
Section  738 of that bill would be devastating because it would cut-off 
funding for USDA  activities important to the horse industry. It would 
eliminate 
funding necessary  for USDA to operate quarantine facilities and to pay 
personnel to approve and  facilitate the import and export of horses for 
exhibition, 
competition, sale or  breeding. The bill would not only cut off direct funding 
to USDA, but also  eliminate USDA's authority to impose user fees which 
support the operation of  the three major USDA Animal Import Centers and the 
land 
border ports along the  Canadian and Mexican borders. 
The welfare of all horses and the horse  industry is based to a large degree 
on the many safety nets that the U.S.  Department of Agriculture has set up to 
protect the health and well-being of our  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. It would also 
have an 
extremely adverse effect on important equine  activities and commerce. 
Please support any effort to have this onerous  section deleted from the USDA 
Appropriations bill. 
Sincerely,  



United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. 4047 Iron Works Pkwy,  Lexington, 
KY 40515 859-258-2472


-- 
Cheryl Van  Deusen
Companion Arabians
386.566.4820  (cell)
cvandeusen@xxxxxxxxx
www.companionarabians.com  




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