Buchanan Offers Amendments to Stop Horse Slaughter, Protect Endangered Species and Fight Red Tide

Source: House Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL, 16th)

Washington, D.C. - September 1, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan today announced that he will be offering amendments to prohibit horse slaughter, combat red tide and protect endangered species as part of a government funding bill to be considered by Congress next week.

Buchanan submitted the three amendments to the House Rules Committee, which will decide Tuesday whether to allow the measures to be brought to the House floor for a vote.

“Banning the slaughter of horses, curbing harmful red tide and funding the Endangered Species Act are important issues to the people in my district and the rest of Florida,” Buchanan said. “It's time for Congress to end partisan gridlock and pass common-sense policies.”

Specifically, Buchanan offered the following amendments to H.R. 3354, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act of 2018:

Buchanan Horse Slaughter Amendment – Prevents the reopening of horse slaughter facilities in the United States by prohibiting federal funding for health and safety inspections which is required by law at all meat processing plants. Buchanan is also the sponsor of the SAFE Act to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the U.S. as well as the export of live horses to Mexican and Canadian Slaughterhouses.

Buchanan Red Tide Amendment – Increases funding for NOAA’s National Ocean Service by $8 million to detect, respond to and develop new and innovative technologies to mitigate the impacts of red tide. Red tide, caused by Karenia brevis algae, is a toxic bacteria that has lingered along Suncoast shores on and off for several months now, killing thousands of fish and discouraging potential visitors from taking in some of the country’s best beaches.

Buchanan Endangered Species Amendment – Restores $3,393,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for new species listings under the Endangered Species Act. The FWS is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving and protecting fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. Two of Florida's most iconic animals, the panther (endangered) and the manatee (threatened), have been listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1976.

Buchanan, the co-chair of Florida's congressional delegation, has long placed a priority on combating red tide and cracking down on animal cruelty. He has successfully fought for red tide research and was recently honored as the U.S. Humane Society's Legislator of the Year for his leadership on animal welfare issues.