WASHINGTON (July 25, 2013) – The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Pa., in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District. As minority chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Leach has consistently led efforts to strengthen state laws on animal cruelty and abuse. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges primary voters to support Daylin Leach.
“Daylin Leach is one of Pennsylvania’s strongest champions of animal protection, and an effective leader in cracking down on cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has consistently stood up for the values of kindness and compassion and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Daylin Leach.”
While serving as Pennsylvania State Senator, Daylin Leach:
- Served as the chair of the Senate Animal Protection Caucus, which he helped to create in order to organize legislators on animal protection issues
- Sponsored legislation to prohibit the sale, possession and distribution of shark fins to crack down on the brutal practice of shark finning (SB 1578)
- Sponsored legislation to phase out the routine non-therapeutic use of antibiotics on industrial factory farms (SB 398)
- Led efforts to ban live pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania (SB 510)
- Cosponsored legislation to address the inhumane continuous tethering of dogs and establish penalties for related offenses (SB 522)
- Cosponsored legislation to strengthen regulations on large-scale puppy mills and protect dogs and consumers (P.L. 1450, No. 119)
- Voted to shift the financial burden of animal cruelty cases from municipalities and nonprofit shelters to those responsible for the animals’ suffering (HB 82)
- Voted to ban the use of carbon monoxide chambers at animal shelters, and allow shelter personnel to procure the drugs necessary to euthanize animals in a humane manner (P.L. 1452, No. 182)
- Voted to strengthen poaching laws by creating a comprehensive penalty system and clarifying rights and duties of wildlife conservation officers (P.L. 387, No. 54)
- Voted to prohibit the simulcasting of greyhound racing (P.L. 210, No. 32)
- Voted to establish liability for the owner of a dog who injures or kills a service dog (HB 165)
- Voted for a bill to require that debarking, tail docking, and other surgical procedures be performed under anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian (HB 39)
HSLF notes that Marjorie Margolies has also supported animal protection issues when she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, but Daylin Leach gets the nod for a career-long commitment to animal welfare and active leadership on these issues.
Media contact: Heather Sullivan: (240) 477-2251, 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.
