COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE EIGHTY-FIFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 176, H. R. 2880, H. R. 3029, H. R. 3049, H. R. 5671, H. R. 5820, CONTENTS H. R. 176, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce, and for other H. R. 2880, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce, and for other H. R. 3029, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce and for other H. R. 3049, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce, and for other H. R. 5671, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce and for other H. R. 5820, a bill to promote the development and use of improved methods for the humane handling, transporting, and slaughtering of livestock and poultry in interstate and foreign commerce_ H. R. 6422, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce and for other H. R. 6509, a bill to require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce, and for other 143 Anthony, D. J., MRCVS, DVSM, FRSH, chief, veterinary officer, 61 48 Babcock, Dr. Myra, Pleasant Ridge, Mich. Barner, Dr. Ralph D., professor of veterinary pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Bemelmans, Madeleine, Society for Animal Protective Legislation, Buttrick, Carlton E., president of the Animal Rescue League of Boston and an officer and director of New England Livestock Conserva- Clarkson, Dr. M. R., deputy administrator, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture; accompanied by Dr. A. R. Miller, director, Meat Inspection Division, United States Caybaugh, Mrs. Blair F., president of the Humane Society of Harris- burg, Pa., and president of the Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania _ _ Dorn, Hon. W. J. Bryan, a Representative in Congress from the State Dawson, Hon. William A., a Representative in Congress from the Gesell, Mrs. Robert, Animal Welfare Institute, New York, N. Y.. Greenwald, David H., counsel, American Federation of Retail Kosher Griffiths, Hon. Martha W., a Representative in Congress from the Hanfield, Raymond J., executive assistant, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, N. Y... Hiestand, Hon. Edgar W., a Representative in Congress from Cal- Holway, Frances A., Washington, D. C. Johnson, Clifton E., of the Michigan Humane Society, Detroit, Mich__ Kearney, Paul W., Brooklyn, N. Y. La Roe, Wilbur, Jr., general counsel for the National Independent Page 21 128 81 88 Lewin, Rabbi Isaac, member of the executive committee of the Union of orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, and professor at Yeshiva University, New York; accompanied by Rabbi Pincas Liljenquist, L. Blaine, Washington representative, Western States Mayer, Arnold, public relations director and Washington staff member of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, AFL-CIO; accompanied by Larkin Birmingham, business agent, local 149, Baltimore, Md... Milburn, G. R. "Jack," Grassrange, Mont., first vice president and Miller, Hon. George P., a Representative in Congress from the Eighth Morgan, Jo V., Jr., attorney, the American Humane Association. Myers, Fred, executive director, the Humane Society of the United Naramore, C. Raymond, vice president and executive director of the Perkins, Helen N., president of the Richmond Society for the Pre- Phillips, Rutherford T., executive director of the American Humane Association__ Phillips, William T., operative manager of the Pennsylvania Society Prout, Mrs. R. I. C., president of the General Federation of Women's Regensburger, R. W., of Swift & Co., appearing for the American Sargent, Miss Virginia W., Animal Protective Association.. Shaffer, J. J., managing director of the Anticruelty Society of Chicago Additional data submitted to the subcommittee by- Holway, Mrs. Frances A., Washington, D. C.: A letter from a United States Government inspector in a slaughter- American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D. C., letter of HUMANE SLAUGHTER TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1957 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMODITY SUBCOMMITTEE ON LIVESTOCK AND FEED GRAINS OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met pursuant to notice at 10: 10 a. m., in room 1310, New House Office Building, Hon. W. R. Poage (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Poage (chairman of the subcommittee), Albert, Jennings, Matthews, Hill, and Harvey. Also present: Representatives Abernethy, Polk, Gathings, Jones, Thompson, Johnson, Dague, McIntire, Dixon, Krueger and Teague (California); Devereux, Cooley, and Mrs. Griffiths. John Heimburger, counsel. Mr. POAGE. The committee will please come to order. We are here this morning to consider various humane bills that are before us. We have a number of bills, some of which possibly are duplicates. (The bills are as follows:) [H. R. 176, 85th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To require the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock and poultry in interstate or foreign commerce, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, as used in this Act (a) The term "commerce" means commerce (1) among the several States or with foreign nations, (2) in any Territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, (3) between any such Territory and another, (4) between any such Territory and any State or foreign nation, or (5) between the District of Columbia and any State, Territory, or foreign nation; (b) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture; (c) The term "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association; (d) The term "slaughterer" means any person regularly engaged in the business of (1) purchasing livestock or poultry in commerce for purposes of slaughter or (2) slaughtering livestock or poultry for the sale in commerce of meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products; (e) The term "livestock" means cattle, sheep, swine, and any other animal susceptible of use for the preparation of meat or meat products; and (f) The terms "packer" and "stockyard" shall have the same meaning as when used in the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U. S. C. 191, 202). SEC. 2. (a) No slaughterer shall hoist, cut, scald, skin, bleed, or slaughter any livestock unless such livestock has first been rendered insensible by mechanical, electrical, chemical, or other means determined by the Secretary to be rapid, effective, and humane. (b) No slaughterer shall bleed or slaughter any poultry unless such poultry has first been rendered insensible by the severing of the head from the body, or by any electrical or other means determined by the Secretary to be rapid, effective, and humane. |