Dear Representative Paul,
 
Thank you for your response, but with all due respect it sounds as though you are not fully informed on HR 857 and why we need a Federal bill in lieu of the states making a decision.
 
Are you aware that currently only two horse slaughterhouses operate in the US and both are in Texas?
 
Are you aware that currently a Federal Judge in Texas will be determining whether or not the current Texas statutes in the Texas Agricultural Code, which prohibits the slaughtering of horses for human consumption in Texas is pre-empted by Federal law? The Federal Judge will be determining if  the Federal law, which protects interstate commerce, overrides the Texas law outlawing the sale of horsemeat for human consumption.
 
So that is why it cannot be left up to the States and why we need a Federal law to protect our horses. 
 
Again as a Texas resident, a Texas horse owner, a volunteer in a Texas horse rescue, I ask you to co-sponsor and support HR 857.
 
I look forward to your response and your support.
 
Regina L. Anderson, member
Lone Star Equine Rescue
www.lser.org
311 Martin Church Road
Kyle, Texas 78640
512-398-5775