The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will hold a hearing for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503) at 2 p.m. on July 25, according to the subcommittee’s web site.

H.R. 503 is an amendment to the Horse Protection Act. The amendment will, according to the legislation, "Prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes." A similar bill (S. 1915) awaits a hearing in the Senate.

There are many organizations concerned about the potential ramifications of the bill and its wording. "(H.R. 503) says that it prohibits transport of horses for slaughter, for human consumption, and for other purposes," Cindy Schonholtz, president of the Animal Welfare Council, said. "What are those other purposes?" Schonholtz explained that the wording leaves the legislation open for loose translation that could be extended to private horse owners.

But that’s not her only concern with the legislation. In mid-May, the AWC, a non-profit group, published a white paper titled, "The Unintended Consequences of a Ban on the Humane Slaughter (Processing) of Horses in the United States." (Click here to read the paper in its entirety