In September, the House passed HR 3354, an omnibus appropriations bill that would harm animals in a variety of ways. Among the amendments not allowed to come to the floor for a vote: one that would prohibit the USDA from inspecting horse slaughter plants (without which, they cannot operate in interstate commerce) and one to ban the killing of wild horses and burros as a means of population control. Conversely, four amendments to weaken the Endangered Species Act were approved. The Senate never took up this bill, however, so the government is operating under a stopgap “continuing resolution” that does not include these provisions.