A bill that would ban trade of horsemeat and live horses for human consumption has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Connie Morella of Maryland said in a prepared statement: “Americans do not eat horses.  We do not raise them for food. When told that our horses are being slaughtered for dinner in Europe, the vast majority of Americans are horrified and want the practice banned.”

Chris Heyde of the Society for Animal Protective Legislation contends that “three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in the U.S.” support current practices. Several states have passed laws either prohibiting the slaughter and/or consumption of horseflesh, or restricting the manner in which horses are transported to slaughter, the release said.

Earlier this month, federal regulations concerning the commercial transport of horses to slaughter were implemented, but animal advocates say they offer little real protection for the horses, hence the call for an outright ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption, the release said