WASHINGTON (Sept. 30, 2014) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., for re-election to the House of Representatives. Citing his strong leadership and advocacy on animal protection policies, including his effective action to get the “Tiger Stamp” legislation signed by the President to help rare species across the world through a self-funding mechanism, the HSLF urges voters in New York’s 11th Congressional District to support Rep. Grimm in November’s general election.
“Michael Grimm has been a leader in advancing policies to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. He just worked to get legislation passed to extend the availability of a stamp that allows private citizens to contribute to a fund to protect tigers, elephants, and other endangered animals in their native habitats,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Voters in the 11th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Michael Grimm for Congress.”
The HSLF publishes an annual Humane Scorecard of Congress to give voters a snapshot of every federal legislator's record on animal protection issues; Rep. Grimm consistently receives high marks and twice received a perfect score of 100.
An avid dog lover, in 2011 Rep. Grimm adopted Sebastian, a Yorkshire terrier rescued from a Missouri puppy mill. Sebastian often makes the rounds on Capitol Hill with Rep. Grimm.
Among his efforts in the 113th Congress, Rep. Grimm:
- Led the effort in the House to pass the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S. 231). The bill reauthorized the U.S. Postal Service’s issuance of the so-called “Tiger Stamp,” which provides funding for endangered species without using taxpayer dollars. Since its inception, the Tiger Stamp has raised $2,567,000.00 for conservation.
- Sponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 4148) to phase out cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals.
- Sponsored the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 183) to create a pilot program in which veterans suffering from post-deployment mental health conditions train service dogs, including those rescued from shelters, as a form of therapy. The dogs would then go to help veterans with disabilities.
- Co-sponsored the Pets on Trains Act (H.R. 2066) to require Amtrak to establish a pet policy allowing companion animals to travel with their owners on certain passenger trains.
- Co-sponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1518) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
- Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments (H.R. 1731) to ban barren battery cages in the egg industry and improve the treatment of hundreds of millions of laying hens.
- Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act (H.R. 366) which was included in the 2014 Farm Bill, making it a federal crime to attend or bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight.
- Co-sponsored the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2856) to prohibit the interstate commerce in chimpanzees and other primates in the exotic pet trade, which poses a danger to animal welfare and to public health and safety;
- Co-sponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 1094) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
- Co-sponsored a resolution (H. Res. 285) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ban and prevent the import of shark fins from sharks caught through the brutal practice of finning.
- Signed a group letter opposing the dangerous and overreaching “King amendment,” which threatened to nullify hundreds of state and local laws on food safety, animal welfare and agriculture, and was nixed from the 2014 Farm Bill.
- Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture through student loan forgiveness.
Media Contact: Martin Montorfano, (202) 676-2347, mmontorfano@hslf.org
###
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.
