Horse slaughter bill moves forward A U.S. House of Representatives committee this week approved a measure that would ban the practice nationwide of slaughtering horses for human consumption and halt the export of horses destined for consumption in other countries. Animal-welfare groups have long campaigned for the horse slaughter ban, claiming the treatment of horses sold for meat is cruel. They’ve already succeeded at forcing the closure of the three final U.S. horse slaughterhouses — two in Texas and one in Illinois. But since thousands of horses are still exported for slaughter in Canada and Mexico, and many states have no laws that would prohibit the opening of new plants, the groups have been seeking federal regulation since 2001. The proposed legislation is the “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act,” sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Dan Burton, D-Ind. The proposal would make it a crime punishable by up to three years in prison to possess or transport horse meat for human consumption or horses intended to be slaughtered for human meals. The Animal Agriculture Alliance called the proposal “horribly misguided and misleadingly named.” According to AAA, “multiple amendments intended to lessen the frightful negative impact the bill would have on horse welfare were defeated along largely partisan lines.” Opponents of the law, including many cattle ranchers, horse breeders and veterinarians, believe the measure will have many unintended, inhumane consequences....