Farm Bill Update: "Downed Animals" Still At Risk

The Associated Press reports (03/19) that the Downed Animal Protection
provision has come under attack in the House-Senate Conference Committee,
where the final version of the Farm Bill will soon be determined (to see
the article, go to http://www.reporternews.com/2002/texas/anim0319.html).
The Downed Animal provision would mandate that stockyards, auctions and
other intermediate markets humanely euthanize those animals who are too
sick or injured to walk on their own. Said Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), one
of the provision's chief sponsors, "These animals, known as downers,
suffer beyond belief as they are kicked, dragged, and prodded with
electric shocks in an effort to move them at auctions and intermediate
markets en route to slaughter." Although the Downed Animal provisions
were included in both the House and the Senate version of the Farm Bill,
it now appears as though House Conferees are trying to weaken them by
calling for a study and giving the Secretary of Agriculture the option to
draft regulations "if needed."

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact the following Conference Committee members and urge them to keep
the downed animal provisions that were approved by the full House and
Senate — WITHOUT WEAKENING THEM — in the final Farm Bill.

1. Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD)
   ph: 202/224-2321
   fax: 202/224-6603

2. Representative Larry Combest (R-TX)
   ph: 202/225-2171
   fax: 202/225-0917

3. Representative Charles Stenholm (D-TX)
   ph: 202/225-0317
   fax: 202/225-8510

4. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
   ph: 202/224-2043
   fax: 202/224-7776

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