09/08/06 Horse Slaughter & Ag Sec Award

Horse slaughter Bill & Ag Secretary's award. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The U.S. House on Thursday debated and then voted on H.R. 503 - a measure to ban horse slaughter. The issue is one of a select few related to agriculture expected to receive any Congressional attention before Congress adjourns for the November elections. House Ag Chairman Bob Goodlatte explained there were other problems with the bill - leaving too many unanswered questions that could be detrimental to the welfare of horses in the U.S. That`s why - as he reminded his House colleagues - there was no support for the bill in committee. GOODLATTE: HR 503 has not received the support of any house committee, and was in fact ordered to be reported unfavorably to the floor with the recommendation that it not pass. By an overwhelming bi-partisan majority of 37 to 3 of the Agriculture Committee. The committee rejected this legislation because it has real concerns that eliminating the option of humane euthanasia at horse processing facilities will do undeniable harm to the welfare of the 90,000 unwanted horses per year that normally go this route. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will be honored this evening by the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund with its 2006 Community Leadership Award. The award will be presented during the Fund`s annual congressional reception at Washington`s Press Club. Johanns is being recognized for his contributions to diversity and education Now here's today's Washington Grange Report. (GRANGE) That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.