WASHINGTON (Sept. 17, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick for reelection in the 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Citing his effective leadership and advocacy on animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges voters to support Fitzpatrick.
“Michael Fitzpatrick has led important efforts to protect the Endangered Species Act, stop the trade in dangerous primates as pets, and protect animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He is fighting for the values of kindness and compassion, and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to reelect Michael Fitzpatrick.”
Fitzpatrick has been a strong supporter of animal protection. Among his efforts, he has:
- Sponsored a successful amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill, which removed a devastating “extinction rider” that would have weakened the Endangered Species Act by preventing the listing of imperiled species and designation of critical habitat
- Sponsored the Captive Primate Safety Act, H.R. 4306, to prohibit the interstate commerce in chimpanzees and other primates for the exotic pet trade, which poses a danger to animal welfare and to public health and safety
- Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the U.S., 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 Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments, H.R. 3798, to improve the treatment of egg-laying hens and provide a stable and secure future for U.S. egg farmers
- 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 close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a minor to an organized dogfight or cockfight
- Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 2966, to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of American horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy
- Supported an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would have saved millions of taxpayer dollars by reducing the use of aerial gunning, toxic poisons, steel-jawed leghold traps, and other inhumane methods of killing predators as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers
- Supported an amendment to cap agriculture subsidies and limit huge taxpayer giveaways to massive factory farms which jeopardize public health, the environment, and animal welfare, while also driving smaller and more humane, sustainable family farms out of business
Media contacts: Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@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.
