WASHINGTON (Feb. 15, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich for the Democratic primary in Ohio’s newly created 9th Congressional District. Citing his unique leadership and great passion on animal protection issues, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges primary voters in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District to support Kucinich.
“Dennis Kucinich has been a leading champion for animal protection policies throughout his career in Congress,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has one of the strongest records for standing up for the values of kindness and compassion and against animal cruelty. He’s a real leader on these issues, and we urge voters in the 9th District who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Dennis Kucinich.”
Kucinich has been a leading champion for animal protection in Congress. Among his efforts, Kucinich has:
- Frequently spoken on the House floor in favor of animal protection legislation.
- 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 Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to establish misdemeanor penalties for knowingly attending an organized dogfight or cockfight, and felony penalties for taking a minor to such a fight.
- Supported efforts in Ohio to crack down on the private ownership of dangerous wild animals as pets.
- 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.
- Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out the 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.
- As chair of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Kucinich held hearings to examine the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, sparked by The Humane Society of the United States’ investigation into the abuse of downer livestock at slaughter plants in California and Vermont.
- Recently asked the Food and Drug Administration to crack down on tainted pet treats imported from other countries.
HSLF notes that U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur has also been an advocate of the humane treatment of animals, but Kucinich gets the nod for a career-long commitment to animal welfare and active leadership on these issues.
Media contacts: 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.
