WASHINGTON (Dec. 13, 2011) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s newly created 14th Congressional District. Citing his effective leadership and impact on animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges primary voters to support Peters.
“Gary Peters has been an effective leader in protecting animals and fighting against cruelty throughout his career in the state legislature and in Congress,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He is working to protect pets, wildlife, and farm animals, and standing up for the values of kindness and compassion. We urge voters in the 14th District who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Gary Peters.”
Peters has been a leading champion for animal protection in Congress, and has helped to enact a number of new federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among his efforts, Peters has:
- Sponsored the Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act, , which passed in 2010 and bans commerce in videos showing the intentional torture of puppies, kittens and other live animals for the sexual titillation of viewers (P.L. 111-294).
- Led a bipartisan effort urging the U.S. Army to stop poisoning live vervet monkeys with overdoses of toxic chemicals at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The Army announced that the monkeys will be replaced with humane, non-animal alternatives in future chemical warfare training.
- Sponsored an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Bill to save millions of tax dollars and stop the federal government from using toxic poisons, steel-jawed leghold traps, aerial gunning and other inhumane methods of killing wildlife as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers.
- Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the United States, where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter, without exercise, veterinary care, socialization or human companionship.
- Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire the approximately 500 federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save tens of millions of tax dollars from warehousing chimps in federally-funded laboratories.
- Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to establish misdemeanor penalties for knowingly attending an organized dogfight or cockfight, and felony penalties for bringing a minor to such a fight.
- Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 2966, to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy.
Media contact: Pepper Van Tassell, (240) 751-0232, pvantassell@hslf.org
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HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.
