PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 631.
Congressional Research Service
Version 81 · Passed House without amendment · Sep 7, 2006
Amends the Horse Protection Act to define: (1) "human consumption" as ingestion by people as a source of food; and (2) "slaughter" as the killing of one or more horses or other equines with the intent to sell or trade the flesh for human consumption.
Sets forth additional congressional findings.
Prohibits the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption.
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to detain for examination, testing, or the taking of evidence: (1) any horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction which is sore or which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is sore; and (2) any horse or other equine which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is being shipped, transported, moved, delivered, received, possessed, purchased, sold, or donated in violation of such prohibition.
Increases the annual authorization of appropriations.
People & committees
Rep. Sweeney, John E. [R-NY-20] · R–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 631.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Papers returned to House pursuant to H. Res. 1011.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Returned to the House pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1011 by Unanimous Consent.
Previous actions vitiated by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9686)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 603.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 263 - 146, 1 Present (Roll No. 433).
House roll call 433 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 263 - 146, 1 Present (Roll No. 433).
House roll call 433 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H6336)
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 503.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the King (IA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. King (IA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 981, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the King (IA) amendment.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Goodlatte amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Goodlatte demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 981, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Goodlatte amendment.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour and 20 minutes of general debate on H.R. 503.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Adam H. Putnam to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 981 and Rule XVIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 503 with 1 hour and 20 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 981. (consideration: CR H6316-6337)
ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Boehner asked unanimous consent that, during further proceedings today in the House and in Committee of the Whole, the Chair be authorized to reduce to two minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on any question that otherwise could be subjected to five-minute voting under clause 8 or 9 of rule 20 or under clause 6 of rule 18. Agreed to without objection.
Rule H. Res. 981 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 981 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 503 with 1 hour and 20 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 357.
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Reported adversely (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 109-617, Part I.
Reported adversely (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 109-617, Part I.
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from USDA.
Committee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Rereferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Rereferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Rereferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 5/19/2006 H2839)
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.503 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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