RODEO ACTION NEEDED TODAY

From: Linda Burdick
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 12:23 PM
To: Friends of Rodeo Contacts
Subject: Rodeo Action Needed TODAY


Your input is needed NOW! Please take a moment to read the alert below and follow the directions -- you can and will make a difference, so do it! This is, as Sheila says, "your last chance"! And, pass this alert on to everyone and anyone who will get involved, but you must do it TODAY! -- Thanks in advance, Linda

----- Original Message -----
From: Longhorn Rodeo
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 8:54 AM
Subject: Fwd: Rodeo Action Needed TODAY


LAST CHANCE.

Your congressman is voting tomorrow on the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption and for other purposes.

Please register a NO vote at his Washington office at this link:

http://capwiz.com/naiatrust/issues/alert/?alertid=8888026&type=ML

It is quick and easy to send a message. By putting in your name and address, the message automatically goes to the correct legislator. You can compose your own message or click on suggested paragraphs, but be brief. They have heard all the arguments. All he or she needs to know is you want a NO vote on HR 503.

Many congressman have signed on in support of this bill. Animal rights organizations are pushing hard for passage (I received a telephone call from HSUS wanting to patch me through to my congressman's office to ask for his support.)

If you are wavering on this issue, please go to the link above and read the reasons why it is not a good bill. Please do it today. Pass this message on to anyone who will follow through. If you have already asked your congressman to vote No, do it one more time.

Thank you.

Sheila Lehrke
IPRA Animal Issues Coordinator

Please pass this on to interested parties:

Action Needed on proposed federal bills to prohibit horse slaughter:

H.R.503
Title: To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Sweeney, John E. [NY-20] (introduced 2/1/2005)
Cosponsors over 100

S 1915
To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign of NV, cosponsors (15)

H.R. 503 Update:

Hearings were held in July in the House Ag Committee and in a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill was discharged without a vote from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Energy & Commerce Chairman Joe Barton spoke out against the bill and subcommittee Chair Cliff Stearns was very evenhanded in his talk of the bill and the problems with it.

Nearly all of the members of the House Ag Committee Chaired by Rep. Robert Goodlatte were opposed to the bill and voted to report the bill out UNFAVORABLY in a vote of 37 - 3. All members either spoke adamantly against the bill or did not speak. Amendments were also added to the bill proposing the government reimburse horse owners who were going to sell their horse for processing and that the federal government be financially responsible for the unwanted horses. It is widely held that the amendments will be pulled by the rules committee before a floor vote is held, but at least the committee sent a message.

THE WHEELS ARE TURNING TO GET THIS BILL TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY; therefore, IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED.

Action Needed:

1. CALL, EMAIL, FAX, AND MEET WITH YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPS. This is the only way to make a difference at this time. Every individual who has concerns about this bill must speak up NOW or it will be too late. In depth information has already been provided to legislators; all you need to do is let them know you oppose the bills.

They will be on break in August, an excellent time to contact their district office or drop by and express your opinion.

2. See if your Rep. or Senator is a cosponsor. Go to www.thomas.gov and put in HR 503 and click on bill summary/status and cosponsors. If they are a cosponsor, ask them to reconsider. If they are not a sponsor, thank them and ask them to not cosponsor and to vote No on the bill.

3. Spread the word. Grassroots is the only way to win this, and the other side has been more effective to date on grassroots.

This is a very easy way to contact your legislator. It takes all the effort out of composing a message:

To send an email go to the National Animal Interest Alliance's Capwiz and follow the easy instructions. By putting in your address, the proper people are contacted. You may select any of their suggested comments or compose your own message, or combine your message with points on the site.