WASHINGTON (September 23, 2024) – Today, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading animal protection political organization, announced its endorsement of U.S. Representative Darren Soto for re-election to Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
“Darren Soto has used his seat in Congress to fight for commonsense animal protection policies,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has fought to protect our imperiled marine life, our companion animals and animals in laboratories. I urge voters in the 9th District to re-elect this humane champion.”
In the 118th Congress, Rep. Soto earned a perfect score of 100+ on HSLF’s 2023 Humane Scorecard. He has cosponsored a wide variety of animal protection bills, including the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 5399), to phase out testing of cosmetics on live animals and sales of animal-tested cosmetics in the U.S., and the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624), to address serious gaps in welfare standards for tens of thousands of breeding dogs and puppies at large-scale breeding operations licensed by the USDA.
Rep. Soto is a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. He opposed the inclusion of the dangerous and overreaching “Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression” (EATS) Act (H.R. 4417 and S. 2019), or anything like it, in the next Farm Bill by signing onto a letter sent to the House Agriculture Committee leadership.
Additional pro-animal actions taken by Rep. Soto in the 118th Congress include:
- Cosponsored the Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act (H.R. 5041) to give the U.S. Department of Justice the tools it needs to strengthen enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and help deter perpetual violators.
- Cosponsored the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475) to prohibit the reopening of horse slaughter plants in the U.S. and the export of American horses to slaughter for human consumption.
- Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3090) to crack down on “soring,” in which trainers deliberately inflict severe pain on the hooves and legs of Tennessee walking horses.
- Voted against an amendment to the FY 2024 Interior-Environment appropriations bill that aims to undermine the Endangered Species Act (ESA), by prohibiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from implementing commonsense, science-backed regulations to prevent species from reaching endangered status.
- Requested provisions in the fiscal year 2024 funding bill for enforcement of the AWA, HPA, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, and for programs to promote alternatives to animal testing, to provide shelter for domestic violence survivors with pets, to address the needs of animals at zoos and other AWA-regulated facilities in disasters, and to encourage veterinarians to locate in underserved areas.
Media Contact:
Emily Ehrhorn | eehrhorn@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.
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.
