From AHC
House Committee Approves USDA Appropriations Bill
On May 29, 2014, the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill. This bill provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the 2015 fiscal year (October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015). The bill contains several provisions that impact the horse industry, including funding for USDA equine health activities, enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and a provision that would prohibit funding for USDA inspections at U.S. horse slaughter facilities.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill on May 22. Information about that bill can be found at: http://www.horsecouncil.org/senate-committee-approves-usda-appropriations-bill
FY 2015 House USDA Appropriations
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Equine Health
The bill would provide $867.5 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS is the USDA agency responsible for protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, including responding to contagious equine disease outbreaks. Funding for Equine, Cervid, and Small Rumiant health would be set at $19.5 million, this is the same amount that was appropriated in FY 2014.
Horse Slaughter
Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) offered an amendment to prohibit funding for USDA inspections at U.S. horse slaughter facilities that passed by a 28-22 vote. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) spoke in opposition to the amendment. Such a prohibition would prevent horse slaughter facilities from operating in the U.S. There is currently a prohibition on funding for inspectors at such facilities that expires on September 30, 2014.
For several years beginning in 2005 the USDA was prohibited from funding inspections at horse slaughter facilities. But, the FY 2012 USDA appropriations bill lifted that ban on funding and would have allowed horse processing to resume. However, no horse slaughter facilities opened or resumed operating before funding was again prohibited by the FY 2014 USDA appropriations bill.
The Senate Appropriations Committee adopted an identical amendment when it marked up the Senate version of the bill.
Horse Protection Act
The bill provides $697,000 for enforcement of the Horse Protection Act, this is the same amount that was appropriated in FY 2014.
The bill must now be approved by the full House.