King: DON'T
WASTE OUR TIME
WASHINGTON -
U.S. Congressman
Steve King
(IA-05) today
urged his
colleagues to
spend their time
on more
important issues
in the daily
lives of the
American people.
The bill, H.R.
503, which would
ban horse
slaughter in the
United States
for human
consumption,
passed the House
today. It must
now be passed by
the Senate and
signed by the
President to
become law.
King offered an
amendment to the
bill that would
preclude groups
who have
historically
used equine meat
for religious or
cultural
reasons. Horses
have played, and
continue to
play, an
important role
in Native
American
culture. This
is true for the
tribes of the
Great Northern
Plains,
including the
Great Sioux
Nation. Many
tribal members
raise and sell
horses and some
of these horses
are used for
food and
exported.
"With all of the
big issues that
should be
addressed in
America right
now, such as the
War on Terror,
our porous
borders, the
high energy
prices and
access to
quality and
affordable
healthcare,"
said King. "I am
astonished that
instead
Washington
insiders are
wasting their
time regulating
horse
slaughter."
"Horses, cows,
pigs, sheep,
fish and many
other different
animals can be
our pets, but I
caution against
humanizing them
when we should
be working on
legislation to
better the lives
of the American
people," added
King.
