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EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / may 2008 iii
Unwanted horses, veterinary workforce expansion and
emergency disaster assistance for horses will be just a few
of the important issues on the agenda when the Public
Policy Committee travels to Washington, D.C., June 15 ?
18. The annual trip to meet with federal legislators coin-
cides with the American Horse Council?s annual National
Issues Forum. Several members of the Public Policy
Committee also are actively involved with the AHC
through its Health and Regulatory, Animal Welfare and
Equine Identification committees, board of trustees and
the Unwanted Horse Coalition. This gives the AAEP an
important voice in the equine community and the legisla-
tive process.
One of the most beneficial aspects of the committee?s D.C.
trip is the opportunity to meet with congressional repre-
sentatives and senators and/or their staffs. ?Our meetings
with individual legislators help to give veterinary and
equine issues more prominence,? explained Dr. Miles
Hildebrand, chair of the Public Policy Committee. ?While
we certainly have issues that need immediate attention,
our long-term goal is to build relationships with the sena-
tors and representatives so that they will use the AAEP as
a resource on future legislation that affects the profession
and the health and welfare of the horse.?
The key issues that the committee will put forth are:
The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R.
503/S.311). The AAEP remains opposed to the passage of
this legislation because it does not provide the necessary
infrastructure for caring for the thousands of unwanted
horses impacted by a ban on horse processing in the U.S.
No horse processing plants currently operate in the U.S.
because of action taken at the state level (the two plants in
Texas were closed in January 2007 and the Illinois facility
closed in July 2007). It is believed that the closure of the
U.S. facilities is one factor in the increased reporting of
equine neglect and abuse cases in the last several months.
The committee will talk with legislators about the conse-
quences of the plant closures and the impact on the
unwanted horse population.
?While currently there are no plants in the U.S. process-
ing horses for human consumption, it is important that
the AAEP continue to support its position that a ban on
processing is not prudent because the proposed legisla-
tion does not address the long-term placement and fund-
ing of care for the affected horses,? said Dr. Eleanor
Green, AAEP president. ?Horse processing is sympto-
matic of a much bigger issue ? the large number of
unwanted horses in the U.S. ? and we will continue to
work with the equine industry to develop meaningful
solutions.?
(To read the AAEP?s position paper on the proposed
legislation to ban processing, visit www.aaep.org/
current_issues.htm)
Veterinary Public Health Workforce Expansion Act (S.
746/H.R. 1232). The shortage of veterinarians working
with large animals, especially in food supply and public
health positions, poses a threat to our country?s security.
Though the federal budget is strained, national investment
in our veterinary colleges and our capacity in zoonotic and
food animal disease research is necessary. While the
Senate passed the 2007 Farm Bill which included the
Veterinary Medicine Workforce Grant Program - Section
11045 and the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment -
Section 7003, the House has not and that is where the
AAEP?s efforts will be focused in June.
Emergency Disaster Assistance. This effort focuses on
making horses eligible for emergency federal assistance
following a disaster. This would benefit horse owners
and horses affected by a disaster and support the impor-
tant concept that horses are livestock. The 2007 Farm
Bill includes provisions that would make horse owners
President-Elect Dr. Harry Werner and Past President
Dr. Scott Palmer visited their elected representatives during
the committee?s 2007 trip to the nation?s Capitol.
Continued on page XI
AAEP Public Policy Committee heading to the Hill to meet with legislators