WASHINGTON (Jan. 31, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett for Maryland’s newly drawn 6th Congressional District. Citing his effective leadership and impact on animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges voters to support Bartlett.
“Roscoe Bartlett has demonstrated strong leadership on important animal protection policies, such as cracking down on dogfighting and cockfighting, and phasing out the costly and wasteful use of chimpanzees in invasive research,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We urge voters in the 6th District who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Roscoe Bartlett.”
Bartlett has been a champion for animal protection in Congress, and has helped to advance new policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among his efforts, Bartlett has:
- 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.
- Led the fight to end the use of live monkeys in chemical warfare training by the U.S. Army by replacing those animals with non-animal alternatives.
- 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 eaten.
- 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.
- Sponsored the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which passed in 2007 and established felony-level penalties for interstate dogfighting and cockfighting activities; and co-sponsored current legislation, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to further strengthen the law by prohibiting attendance and taking a minor to an animal fight.
- Co-sponsored the Animal Crush Video Prohibition 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).
- Co-sponsored the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act, H.R. 198, which passed the House in 2011, to create a pilot program for veterans suffering from post-deployment mental health conditions to train therapy dogs.
Media contacts: Pepper Van Tassell, (301) 258-1417, 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.
