A bill that would have stopped horse slaughter in Illinois didn’t receive enough votes to pass in the House last week.

Because of that, Rep. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago) used a legislative tactic so he could bring his bill back for another vote later. However, Congress also is considering a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption.

The bill would impact Cavel International, the state’s only horse-slaughtering plant, located in DeKalb. The foreign-owned plant was rebuilt after a 2002 fire and plans to reopen next month.

The plant produces horse meat for export to Europe and Japan; horse consumption by humans is illegal in Illinois.

Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Sycamore), who represents the district where the plant is located, emphasized the plant provides jobs and tax revenue to the state’s economy.