Animals & Politics

Elections  /  May 21, 2020

Are we finally done with Steve King?

The 2020 Election could very well spell the end of Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) political career, and as far as we’re concerned, it could not come a moment too soon. When it comes to animal welfare, King is a genuine outlier, and that’s why we’ve made him the focus of the HSLF’s first 2020 election season advertisement. And because of his erratic and contentious public positions, he’s facing serious challengers, who have raised more funds than he has, and seems increasingly vulnerable this year.

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Wildlife, In the News  /  May 20, 2020

Breaking news: U.S. will allow cruel trophy hunting practices to kill hibernating bears and wolf pups on Alaska's federal lands

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The Trump administration has just delivered a one-two punch to Alaska’s wildlife: it has announced that it will release a final National Park Service rule allowing some of the cruelest practices for killing black bears, wolves and other wildlife on national preserve lands in Alaska; and it has announced it will propose overturning Obama-era protections for brown bears and other animals on two million acres of public lands in the state's Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

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Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation  /  May 15, 2020

The Endangered Species Act is in its own fight for survival; help us save and strengthen it

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Imagine our world and its wildlife without the protections of the Endangered Species Act. Had it not been for this bedrock federal law, the beloved American bald eagle would most likely have gone the way of the dodo or the passenger pigeon. Gray wolves and grizzly bears would be no more than relics hanging on the walls of trophy hunters. And the humpback whale would only be found in history books.

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Animals in Research, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  May 14, 2020

BREAKING: HSUS, HSLF, HSI release policy plan on wildlife markets, factory farms, companion animals and more to avoid another global health crisis

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted the world to acknowledge the pressing need to change our relationship with animals. From the wildlife markets implicated in the origin of the novel coronavirus to the slaughterhouses that have become clusters for its spread, we now know only too well that our uncaring attitudes and indifferent practices toward animals can have grave consequences for human health.

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Pets & Cruelty  /  May 12, 2020

Breaking news: USDA finalizes reforms for animals in puppy mills, roadside zoos and research labs, but will it enforce them?

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

In a long-awaited move, the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced important reforms to tighten licensing requirements to prevent those who mistreat animals in their care from carrying on business as usual. 

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Equines, Wildlife, Federal Legislation  /  May 11, 2020

BLM report to Congress on wild horses and burros falls short on fertility control

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

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Farm Animals, Elections  /  May 07, 2020

A conservative’s call to conscience and the nonpartisan nature of humane work

From the start, the Humane Society Legislative Fund has pursued its animal protection agenda on a strictly nonpartisan footing, for a simple reason. We are determined to bring both major political parties along for the journey of making our nation a kinder one. The situation demands no less, because as things stand, it’s hard enough for animals, who are distinctively without voice, without votes, and without political resources to defend themselves.

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Farm Animals  /  May 04, 2020

HSUS, HSLF and partners urge Congress to end higher killing speeds at slaughterhouses

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

In recent weeks, even as slaughterhouses have emerged as hotspots for the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration has been quietly issuing record numbers of waivers for them to kill animals at higher speeds. Now, a coalition of animal welfare groups, workers groups and consumer organizations is asking Congressional leaders to impose a moratorium on such indiscriminate line speed increases, which make slaughterhouses even more dangerous for workers and further increase animal suffering.

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Elections  /  Apr 29, 2020

Democracy must remain open and inclusive

By Brad Pyle

Our legislatures, elections officials, and courts must find ways to protect the rights of American voters to have their voices heard in the upcoming election season and through the ballot and referendum process. Political participation is the lifeblood of American democracy and there is no measure too small that we could take in its defense and reinforcement.

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Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, Film & Television  /  Apr 24, 2020

Members of Congress say more constituents support bill to outlaw public contact with big cats in wake of 'Tiger King'

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

A Netflix series on Joe Exotic, who made a living exploiting tigers he held in captivity at his roadside zoo, is helping to mobilize public support in favor of federal legislation that would end such exploitation.

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Elections  /  Apr 21, 2020

Joe Biden’s record on animal protection

With Joe Biden the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for the White House, we felt it timely to review his record on animal protection for the benefit of our friends and supporters. Biden has a long and positive legacy on our concerns, and it is a useful reminder to candidates for office at all levels that we expect stronger and better commitments from them all in the coming election.

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Wildlife, Action Alerts, In the News  /  Apr 14, 2020

World Health Organization says nations should end wildlife trade

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The World Health Organization is calling on nations to end wildlife markets because of the high risk they pose for the spread of pathogens like the coronavirus that can jump from animals to humans.

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