Press Release

WASHINGTON (July 25, 2019)—The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud a historic move in Congress to protect Tennessee walking horses and related breeds from the cruel practice of intentionally inflicting pain on the animals to force an exaggerated step that is prized in the show ring. The House of Representatives approved by an overwhelming 333 to 96 bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 693. This much-needed legislation will amend the Horse Protection Act, closing loopholes that have allowed violators to continue their heinous practices undeterred.

Soring involves intentional infliction of pain on a horse's legs or hooves to force the horse to perform an artificial, high-stepping gait known as the “big lick.” The Humane Society of the United States has documented these abuses in undercover investigations of the big lick segment of the industry in 2012 and 2015.

“We’re delighted with this historic success. We have long led the charge to end soring, conducting undercover investigations, raising public awareness, working to secure greater funding and more support for enhanced enforcement by USDA and now, working with House champions and coalition partners to secure this important milestone for horses,” said Kitty Block, HSUS president and CEO. “We’re going straight ahead to press for Senate passage of the PAST Act. These animals have suffered long enough.”

“Horse ‘soring’ is one of the worst cruelties imaginable – where scofflaw trainers deliberately torment Tennessee walking horses to get them to fling their front legs high, just to win a cheap blue ribbon in a show ring. It'd be like forcing an Olympian to wear broken glass in her shoes so the pain will make her leap higher over the hurdles,” said Sara Amundson, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We are grateful to the House champions – Reps. Kurt Schrader, Ted Yoho, Steve Cohen, Ron Estes, Jan Schakowsky and Chris Collins – and to all who cosponsored and voted for this bill, as well as to House leadership for bringing it to a floor vote. Now it’s up to the Senate to get the PAST Act over the finish line.”

The HSUS and HSLF also commend former Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and Rep. Cohen for introducing the first version of this legislation in 2012.

“As a lifelong participant in the walking horse industry who has witnessed the physical and emotional damage that soring causes to horses and the economic havoc it has wreaked on this breed, this is truly a heartwarming day,” said Keith Dane, senior advisor for Equine Protection at the Humane Society of the United States. “The thousands of walking horse owners who have tried to achieve reform from within, only to have their wellbeing and that of their horses threatened, have been the backbone of support for passage of PAST and can truly celebrate today’s strong action by the House.”

Dr. John Haffner, a veterinarian who worked for decades in the big lick segment of the walking horse industry and is now a member of the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University, left his practice in disgust after he could no longer tolerate the abuse he regularly witnessed. He then became a very public opponent of soring and advocate for the PAST Act, saying: “The fact is that the big lick can only be accomplished by soring. When one soring technique becomes detectable, another is developed. The big lick is a learned response to pain, and if horses have not been sored, they do not learn it.”

The PAST Act would end the failed system of industry self-policing that has been in place since a 1976 amendment to the Horse Protection Act allowed the industry to take on the bulk of enforcement. The bill would substitute a cadre of third party, independent inspectors trained, licensed and assigned by USDA and accountable to the agency. It would ban devices integral to soring, strengthen penalties and hold abusers accountable.

PAST is endorsed by hundreds of leading groups and individuals in the horse industry and veterinary, law enforcement and animal protection communities, including the American Horse Council, U.S. Equestrian Federation, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, the state veterinary organizations of all 50 states, key individuals in the Tennessee walking horse show world, National Sheriffs' Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and major newspapers in Kentucky and Tennessee (the states where soring is most prevalent).

The Senate companion bill, S. 1007, introduced in April by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Mark Warner, D-Va., currently has 41 Senate cosponsors. The identical legislation was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in 2014.

Media Contact
Emily Ehrhorn, 202-779-1814; eehrhorn@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Federal Proposal Would Halt Wolf Recovery, Allow More Wolf Killing

WASHINGTON (July 15, 2019)—Almost two million Americans stated their opposition to the Trump administration’s proposal to strip endangered species protections from gray wolves in a comment period that closed today. This is one of the largest numbers of comments ever submitted on a federal decision involving endangered species and reflects broad dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s politically driven move to turn wolf management over to state agencies across most of the lower 48 states.

In addition to the 1.8 million comments submitted by the public, 86 members of Congress (House and Senate letters), 100 scientists, 230 businesses, and 367 veterinary professionals all submitted letters to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opposing the wolf delisting plan. Even the scientific peer reviews written at the behest of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s state that the agency’s proposal contains numerous errors and appears to come to a predetermined conclusion, not even supported by its own science, to remove federal protections for wolves.

“The incredible volume of comments give voice to a sad fact: the delisting proposal is a radical departure from the optimism and courage we need to promote endangered species recovery in this country. The comments show that Americans believe the Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal falls well short of the conservation ideals this country stood for 45 years ago when the Endangered Species Act was signed,” said Defenders of Wildlife President Jamie Rappaport Clark.

“The restoration of the gray wolf could be one of the great American wildlife conservation success stories if Secretary Bernhardt would just finish the job,” Leda Huta, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition said.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Instead of restoring wolves to their rightful places in prime wilderness around the country -- as it did for bald eagles -- the agency wants to abandon wolf recovery before the job is done,” said Drew Caputo, Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation for Lands, Wildlife, Oceans. “Today 1.8 million people in America told the Trump Administration to go back to work and protect our wolves.”

Scientists estimate that there were once hundreds of thousands of wolves in the lower 48 states, but the animals had been driven to near-extinction by the early 1900s. After passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973 and subsequent federal protection of the wolf, federal recovery programs resulted in the rebound of wolf populations in limited parts of the country. Today roughly 5,500 wolves currently live in the continental United States -- a fraction of the species’ historic numbers.

The Trump administration’s proposal would remove existing protections for gray wolves everywhere in the lower 48 states except Arizona and New Mexico, where the Mexican wolf is struggling to survive with an estimated population of just 131 wolves. This proposal would abandon protections for wolves in places where wolf recovery is just in its infancy, such as California, Oregon and Washington, and would prevent wolves from recovering in other places where good wolf habitat has been identified, including the southern Rocky Mountains and the Northeast.

"By delisting the gray wolf, Secretary Bernhardt is providing a massive giveaway to the oil and gas industry he once lobbied for," said Josh Nelson, Co-Director of CREDO Action. "Big Oil has spent years lobbying against ESA protections and sees gray wolves – as well as the entire ESA – as a huge barrier in its pursuit to exploit natural resources and increase profits. If Bernhardt's extinction plan is enacted, it would be a death sentence for the gray wolf."

“Trump cannot ignore almost two million voices calling for the protection of wolves,” said Sylvia Fallon, Senior Director of the Nature Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Science should determine how species are protected, not politics or special interests,” Fallon added. “Wolves need continued protections to recover and the American public agrees.”

Nicole Paquette, chief programs and policy officer for the Humane Society of the United States said: “Anti-wolf sentiments nearly led to the extermination of America’s wolves, and just when populations are starting to bounce back, the federal government is considering a plan that could place them in jeopardy. Rather than catering to interests from trophy hunters and fear mongering, we hope the federal government rejects this proposal and works toward the recovery of this species.”

“American wolves deserve better than the FWS’s reckless delisting proposal,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “As an apex predator and keystone species, these national icons provide innumerable ecological benefits and are vital for local economies that rely on wolf-watching tourism.”

"Americans are outraged and hundreds of thousands are saying it loudly and clearly; the job of wolf recovery is not done," said John Horning, executive director of WildEarth Guardians. "The Fish and Wildlife Service is not only wrong on the science of wolf recovery but also wildly out of step with the desires of most Americans who want to see federal protections for wolves maintained."

“The American public has overwhelmingly weighed in: We must not prematurely delist wolves, but instead give them the time they need to truly and fully recover," said Lena Moffit, director of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign. “Secretary Bernhardt must abandon plans to remove vital protections for still-recovering gray wolves, which remain absent from much of their historic range. Instead of persecuting wolves, we should put more effort into coexistence and appreciate the critical role wolves play in maintaining the natural balance."

“This attempt to eliminate crucial protections for gray wolves demonstrates an anti-predator bias that continues to influence wolf management decisions. The undeserved hostility toward wolves is not based on principles of sound scientific management. These apex predators play a vital role in ecosystems, contribute to a multibillion-dollar outdoor tourism industry, and are an iconic symbol of our beloved native wildlife,” said Cathy Liss, president of the Animal Welfare Institute

“Removing protections for an at-risk species like the gray wolf would be yet another in a long line of harmful policies by the most anti-environment administration in history,” said Alex Taurel, Conservation Program Director at the League of Conservation Voters. “President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt should stop doing favors like this for the oil and gas industry and instead protect our public lands and endangered species for the benefit of the people of this country.”

According to Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA, “The American people have firmly rebuked the Trump administration’s attempt to remove critical federal protections from the gray wolf, flooding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a record 1.8 million public comments. We urge the agency to give full consideration to this incredibly strong response, as well as to the best available science, which concludes that this keystone species has not yet fully recovered and merits further protection under the Endangered Species Act.”

“From California and Nevada to Colorado, vast stretches of public land are perfectly suited to wolf recovery, yet the howl of the wolf remains tragically absent from most of the West,” Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist and executive director with Western Watersheds Project, said. “The nationwide de-listing rule represents an extinction plan on behalf of a handful of public land profiteers, at the expense of restoring healthy native ecosystems that will benefit all Americans.”

Media Contact
Diane Summers: 301-258-1456, dsummers@humanesociety.org

##

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.

WASHINGTON (July 15, 2019)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Humane Society of the United States applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 97, “Rescuing Animals With Rewards Act of 2019” to combat wildlife trafficking globally.

Also known as the RAWR Act, H.R. 97 was introduced by Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Dina Titus, D-Nev., and passed the House by voice vote today. Building on a law enacted in 2016 (P.L. 114-231), the bill authorizes the U.S. State Department to use its successful rewards program to combat the most significant perpetrators of wildlife trafficking. A companion bill, S. 1590, has been introduced into the U.S. Senate by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, said, “Wildlife trafficking is one of the most lucrative illicit trades in the world, bringing in over $10 billion a year in illegal profits and threatening endangered species worldwide. The RAWR Act provides an important additional tool to combat illegal wildlife trafficking on a global scale. We commend the House for swiftly passing a bill to crack down on the scourge of wildlife trafficking, and we hope that the Senate will quickly pick up the torch to get this across the finish line.”

Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said, “Whether for trinkets, trophies or the exotic pet trade, wildlife trafficking is a crime, plain and simple, and one that funds additional illegal activities. More species are threatened with extinction today than ever before and wildlife trafficking is no small factor in that. By offering rewards for certain information, the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program will help to not only protect these animals, but prevent other egregious crimes as well.”

Like other forms of illicit trade, wildlife trafficking undermines security across nations. According to the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, poachers, militarized criminal syndicates, and corrupt officials exploit our trade systems and weak institutions to profit from wildlife trafficking—profits that often filter into human and drug trafficking rings as well. The United States has been committed to combating wildlife trafficking, related corruption and money laundering.

The Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, which was established in January 2013, enables the State Department to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest, conviction or identification of significant members of transnational criminal organizations who operate primarily outside the United States. The law also allows for rewards for information that dismantles such organizations or leads to the disruption of their financial mechanisms.

Media Contact
Nancy Hwa: 202-596-0808 nhwa@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

WASHINGTON (June 27, 2019)—Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced legislation today to permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption in the United States and abroad.

The John Stringer Rainey Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act is supported by leading animal welfare groups, including the Animal Welfare Institute, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation.

Tens of thousands of American horses are shipped each year to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for human consumption—a practice that 80% of American voters oppose. American horses are not raised for food and routinely receive a wide range of medications that are expressly prohibited for use in meat products. Even so, the problem of horses and burros being butchered for human consumption persists because “kill-buyers” can legally purchase horses at auctions or from unsuspecting owners in order to ship them to slaughterhouses abroad.

Horses endure long stressful journeys without food, water, or rest and can experience severe injuries and even death en route to slaughterhouses. During the slaughter process, it can be extremely difficult to accurately stun horses—who react to noise, smells and sounds in a commercial plant with their natural flight response. Improperly stunned horses may even remain conscious during the butchering and dismemberment process. The inherent cruelty of sending horses to slaughter is evident at each stage of their journey and was well documented—even in the presence of government oversight—when slaughterhouses existed in the United States.

Further complicating the issue is that unsuspecting individuals who wish to rehome their horses are being duped into selling them into the slaughter pipeline. A recent example involved a veterinary student who deceived owners into giving up their horses by stating that she would find good homes for them, but instead profited by selling them for slaughter. As long as no federal law prohibits the sale for human consumption, owners are unable to ensure that any horse they sell will not end up on a truck bound for a slaughterhouse across the border. Every horse, in fact, is one bad sale away from slaughter.

The John Stringer Rainey SAFE Act would amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to make it illegal for anyone to knowingly transport, purchase, sell, possess, ship or receive any horse with the intent of slaughtering the animal for human consumption. The SAFE Act would also codify penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who violate the law. The bill—which mirrors legislation that was introduced in a prior session of Congress—will be referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Sen. Graham is the chair.

The legislation is named for the late John Stringer Rainey of South Carolina. Rainey was a business leader and philanthropist who supported organizations that promote second careers for retired racehorses. He also worked for the passage of legislation to end slaughter of horses.

“The gruesome practice of slaughtering horses for food has no place in the United States, and it’s well past time for Congress to say once and for all that horsemeat is not what’s for dinner,” said Sen. Menendez. “Horses are routinely treated with drugs that are dangerous for human consumption and do not belong in our nation’s food supply. Our bipartisan legislation will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses while protecting families from toxic horse meat and safeguarding the reputation of the U.S. food industry worldwide.”

“We are grateful to Senators Menendez, Graham, Whitehouse, and Collins for their leadership in ending the slaughter of American horses for human consumption by introducing the John Stringer Rainey Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act,” said Cathy Liss, president of the Animal Welfare Institute. “The problem of tens of thousands of American horses being shipped to slaughter abroad has persisted for far too long, despite overwhelming public opposition to this practice. The food safety and animal welfare concerns associated with the horse slaughter industry are simply too great to ignore. We owe it to these majestic animals to ensure that they do not meet an inhumane death and that the predatory horse slaughter industry is finally stamped out in the United States.”

“Horse industry stakeholders and animal welfare organizations are joining forces on equine welfare solutions by assisting at-risk horses and providing safety net services for owners in need, but those efforts cannot prevent this practice as long as it remains legal. Each year that passes without a ban on horse slaughter in place subjects tens of thousands of American horses to a horrific fate—one that is entirely avoidable,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. “We are grateful to Senators Menendez, Graham, Whitehouse, and Collins for their leadership in moving the SAFE Act forward to protect horses from this greed-driven cruelty.”

“Horse slaughter is fundamentally cruel. The fear and suffering of the animals, while reason enough to stop this industry, are not the only problems,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, “Since American horses are not raised for human consumption and are given medications that can be dangerous to humans, their meat is not safe for human consumption. We applaud these Senators who have taken a stand with most Americans who view horse slaughter as the true abomination it is.”

“It is time to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. Horses are an iconic American species, in large part because of their amazing contributions to the building of our nation,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “They deserve better than being shipped overseas to slaughter. We applaud Senators Menendez, Whitehouse, Collins and Graham for helping to protect them from the inhumane practices of slaughter.”

“That more than 80,000 American horses—including an unknown number who once roamed freely on our public lands—are shipped to their deaths in foreign slaughterhouses each year is an unnecessary betrayal of the animals that helped us build our country, continue to serve humanity and inspire people around the world as a symbol of the American spirit,” said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. “RTF applauds Senators Menendez, Graham, Whitehouse and Collins for recognizing the public’s overwhelming opposition to horse slaughter and continuing this bipartisan fight for the good of America’s horses and for human health.”

The groups encourage the public to contact their senators to urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act and do all they can to secure its swift passage in order to protect America’s horses and overall consumer health from horse slaughter.

Media Contacts

• Emily Ehrhorn: 202-779-1814, eehrhorn@humanesociety.org
• Sydney Hearst: (202) 446-2128, sydney@awionline.org
• Maureen Linehan: (646) 628-0006, maureen.linehan@aspca.org
• Chris Heyde: (202) 423-8689, outreach@returntofreedom.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first animal welfare organization in North America and continues to serve as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA is committed to its mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Animal Welfare Institute (www.awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI engages policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public to achieve better treatment of animals everywhere—in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates and other important animal protection news.

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation (RTF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to wild horse preservation through sanctuary, advocacy, education and conservation. It operates the American Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc, Calif. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about wild horses and burros on the range and at our sanctuary.

WASHINGTON (June 26, 2019)—Two more critically endangered North Atlantic right whales were confirmed dead in Canadian waters yesterday, bringing the death toll to four for 2019. While it is unclear what the cause of death for these four animals is, the two leading causes of deaths for North Atlantic right whales continues to be ship strikes and entanglement with fishing gear.

Since the spring of 2017, a total of 20 right whales have died in the U.S. and Canada. In the same time period, only seven new calves were born to the population. This tragic situation prompted the U.S. government to declare the deaths an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which directs additional resources to the species. The Humane Society of the United States serves on the federal recovery team for North Atlantic right whales and last year brought a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to force the government to take additional actions to save this declining species.

“With less than 420 individuals remaining, any loss is tragic for this species teetering on the brink of extinction,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “The federal government needs to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent their entanglement in fishing gear and to limit the risk of deaths by ship strike. We cannot simply stand by as these remarkable animals disappear from Planet Earth.”

“There is no time to waste in our quest to save these magnificent creatures. We must pass the SAVE Right Whales Act (H.R. 1568), introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton, to support research determining how to minimize conflicts and save whale lives,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “As a start, we applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for approving an appropriations package that would increase funding for research and monitoring of these critically endangered whales and urge the U.S. Senate to follow their lead.”

Media Contacts

• Emily Ehrhorn: 202-779-1814, eehrhorn@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

WASHINGTON (June 20, 2019)—“Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed critical amendments to a funding package designed to protect several iconic species including elephants, lions and whales. We applaud Reps. Buchanan, Huffman, Blumenauer and Lieu for their leadership in ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used by our government to issue permits to import elephant or lion trophies from Zimbabwe, Zambia or Tanzania,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “In addition, funding to research and monitor species, like the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, is necessary to ensure their survival. We applaud Rep. Moulton’s leadership in securing such funding and we thank Reps. Huffman, Serrano and Grijalva who helped defeat a provision which would have blocked federal funds from being used to implement consensus recommendations to save the North Atlantic right whale. With fewer than 420 of these whales left on earth, now is not the time to drop critical funding for this species.”

##

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.

WASHINGTON (June 20, 2019)—The Estée Lauder Companies has become the latest beauty company to back the #BeCrueltyFree campaign, the largest effort in history to end cosmetic animal testing globally. The Estée Lauder Companies is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products, sold in over 150 countries and territories under 25+ brand names. The #BeCrueltyFree campaign is led by Humane Society International, the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

Anna Klein, senior vice president, Global Corporate Affairs for The Estée Lauder Companies, said: “We are proud to partner with Humane Society International, an organization that has done such thoughtful work advocating for animals everywhere. They have been a wonderful partner and advisor as we work together towards our common goal to bring an end to cosmetics animal testing, worldwide.”

Kitty Block, president of Humane Society International and president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Animal testing is last century’s science, but to legislate it out of existence requires us to join forces with forward-looking industry leaders like The Estée Lauder Companies. I’m confident that by working together with beauty companies through our #BeCruelty campaign, we can help bring an end to cosmetics testing on animals by 2023.”

The #BeCrueltyFree campaign is an unprecedented education and consensus-building effort among federal legislators, regulators and corporate and other stakeholders to ensure that all newly manufactured cosmetics are both safe and cruelty-free. It has already helped shape cosmetics animal testing and sale bans in nearly 40 countries.

As part of the campaign, HSI is leading negotiations with cosmetic trade associations and key beauty brands to advance forward-looking federal legislation in countries around the world.

To learn more about The Estée Lauder Companies’ commitment to animal welfare and information on their cruelty-free brands visit www.elcompanies.com.

Media contacts:

The Estée Lauder Companies

• Amara Malik, 212-965-6335, amalik@estee.com

Humane Society International

• United States: Nancy Hwa, 202-596-0808, nhwa@hsi.org
• Canada: Chris Paré, 438-402-0643 +44 (0) 7989 972 423 (mobile), cpare@hsi.org
• UK/Europe: Wendy Higgins, +44 (0)7989 972 423, whiggins@hsi.org

##

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Tory Burch, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, By Kilian, BECCA and Too Faced.

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations. For 25 years, HSI has been working for the protection of all animals through the use of science, advocacy, education and hands on programmes. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide—on the Web at hsi.org.

NEWARK (May 31, 2019)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund today released the results of a new survey, which found that the majority of likely 2020 voters in New Jersey would support a ban on the sale of products containing fur from animals.

The statewide survey, by Lake Research Partners, was conducted online in April 2019 with a cross section of 500 likely voters. It found when learning how fur is produced:

• By a margin of 61% to 18%, New Jersey voters would support legislation banning the sale of clothing and other products containing animal fur.
• More than half of New Jersey voters would be MORE LIKELY to support a candidate who voted to ban the sale of fur, compared to merely 8% who would be less likely.

New Jersey voters have repeatedly shown deep concern about the well-being of animals, and the state has some of strictest animal welfare laws and regulations in the country.

“Voters care about the treatment of animals and critically consider a lawmaker’s stance on this important issue,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “From Los Angeles to New York City, governments are reviewing legislation to ban the sale of products containing fur from animals. New Jersey should be a leader on this issue.”

“The more people learn about the fur industry, the more they’re outraged,” said Dr. Robert Meadow, a partner at Lake Research Partners. “Legislators face virtually no political risk and indeed would benefit politically from sponsoring or supporting measures to ban fur.”

Every year, over 100 million animals are killed for their fur, including domestic cats and dogs. While in traps, animals sustain significant injuries, including broken limbs and teeth. Some animals chew off their limbs trying to escape or they die from exposure. Animals raised on farms for fur are often suffocated, strangled or poisoned in order to not damage their fur; many are skinned alive.

In California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood have already banned fur sales, and California is poised to ban the sale throughout the state in the coming months. Legislation is currently being reviewed by New York state and New York City lawmakers, as well.

Internationally, many countries have banned, or are in the process of phasing out, fur farming. These countries include Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Austria. Additionally, Sao Paulo, Brazil banned fur imports and sales in 2015 and India banned fur imports in 2017.

Brian R. Hackett, New Jersey state director for the Humane Society of the United States, added, “In NJ, there has been a precipitous decline in the trapping of animals for their pelts, and a major fur retailer, once in business for decades, is closing. These trends reflect the reality that consumers are learning the grim truth about fur products and simply just don’t support such cruelty.”

Increasing numbers of designers, brands and companies are going fur-free. Fashion brands such as Gucci, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Armani, Burberry, Chanel and most recently Prada have made the decision to go fur-free.

PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for the Humane Society of the United States, said, “With more and more consumers shunning the archaic system of skinning wild animals for their pelts, there is a real opportunity for the industry to adapt and grow and, in the process, create a fur-free future.”

The New Jersey survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points for 500 adults at the 95% confidence level. Sample tolerances for subgroups are larger. This is one of several polls the HSLF and its affiliates are conducting on issues relating to animal welfare.

Media contact:

Emily Ehrhorn: 202-779-1814, eehrhorn@hslf.org

Maria Katrien Heslin: 202-590-0830, mheslin@humanesociety.org

##

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.

BOSTON (May 30, 2019)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund today released the results of a new survey: the majority of likely 2020 voters in Massachusetts supports a ban on the sale of products containing fur from animals.

The statewide survey, by Lake Research Partners, was conducted in April 2019 online with a cross section of 500 likely voters. It found, when learning how fur is produced:

• By a margin of 59% to 19%, Massachusetts voters would support legislation banning the sale of clothing and other products containing animal fur.
• Nearly half of voters would be MORE LIKELY to support a candidate who voted to ban the sale of fur, compared to merely 8% who would be less likely.

Wild animals being caged their entire lives or trapped for days without food or water for fur products is inconsistent with Massachusetts’ role as a leader in animal welfare measures and its reputation as one of the most humane states in the country. The commonwealth’s voters repeatedly have shown deep concern about the well-being of animals, and Massachusetts has some of strictest animal welfare laws and regulations.

"Voters care about the treatment of animals and critically consider a lawmaker’s stance on this important issue,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “From Los Angeles to New York City, governments are reviewing legislation to ban the sale of products containing fur from animals. Massachusetts should be a leader on this issue.”

“The more people learn about the fur industry, the more they’re outraged,” said Dr. Robert Meadow, a partner at Lake Research Partners. “Legislators face virtually no political risk and indeed would benefit politically from sponsoring or supporting measures to ban fur.”

Cambridge Mayor, Marc McGovern said, “As consumers we have choices about what we wear. Animals held in captivity their entire lives or trapped for their fur don’t have options; their lives are permanently decided by our impulses and what’s-in-this-season fads. A just society does not tolerate this type of cruelty and inhumanity, and so will be looking to build upon the work of other cities by banning the sale of fur in Cambridge businesses.”

Every year, over 100 million animals are killed for their fur, including domestic cats and dogs. While in traps, animals sustain significant injuries, including broken limbs and teeth. Some animals chew off their limbs trying to escape, or they die from exposure. Animals raised on farms for fur are often suffocated, strangled or poisoned in order to not damage their fur. Many are skinned alive.

PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for the Humane Society of the United States, said, “With more and more consumers shunning the archaic system of skinning wild animals for their pelts, there is a real opportunity for the industry to adapt and grow and, in the process, create a fur-free future.”

In California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood have already banned fur sales, and California is poised to ban the sale throughout the state in the coming months. Legislation is currently being reviewed by New York state and New York City lawmakers, as well.

Further, innovative technology has produced an array of alternatives with the same warmth, look and feel as fur, without the cruelty or environmental concerns. Increasing numbers of designers, brands and companies are going fur-free. Fashion brands such as Gucci, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Armani, Burberry, Chanel and most recently Prada, have made the decision to go fur-free.

Internationally, many countries have banned, or are in the process of phasing out, fur farming. These include Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Austria. Sao Paulo, Brazil, banned fur imports and sales in 2015, and India banned fur imports in 2017.

The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points for 500 adults at the 95% confidence level. Sample tolerances for subgroups are larger. This is one of several polls HSLF and its affiliates are conducting on issues relating to animal welfare. .

Media contact:

Emily Ehrhorn: 202-779-1814, eehrhorn@hslf.org

Maria Katrien Heslin: 202-590-0830, mheslin@humanesociety.org

##

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.

WASHINGTON (March 6, 2019)—Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is removing gray wolves in the lower 48 contiguous states from the list of species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund urge the agency to keep gray wolves listed under the ESA.

“The FWS announcement is the latest in a series of misguided and premature regulatory and legislative attempts to remove federal protections for gray wolves and jeopardize their continued recovery. The best available science does not support delisting, and experience shows that reckless trophy hunting and trapping awaits wolves who lose these vital protections,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “In December, we, along with the Center for Biological Diversity, proposed an alternative way forward based on sound science and legal grounds. We urge the FWS to accept our proposed solution.”

The FWS’ announcement hands management authority over wolves to state wildlife agencies. Unfortunately, those agencies cater to a narrow group of special interests: the trophy hunters and trappers who want to kill wolves for bragging rights, social media opportunities and to increase deer and elk populations. The majority of Americans are wildlife watchers and want wolves and other wildlife protected, conserved and humanely treated. As apex carnivores, wolves keep their prey species healthy, and wolf behavior keeps ecosystems biologically diverse.

“Just last November, Americans were heartbroken by the disturbing killing of the famous Yellowstone wolf, Spitfire, by a trophy hunter in Montana. The FWS’ announcement places hundreds of imperiled wolves like Spitfire in the crosshairs of trophy hunters, and threatens the continued recovery of the species,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Wolves occupy a mere fraction of their historic range, and it would be unwise to remove these critical federal protections.”

The Humane Society of the United States recently released ground-breaking reports demonstrating the rarity of cattle and sheep losses from wolves, grizzly bears and cougars. Using the most recent data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the reports show that nine times more livestock die from disease, weather events, birthing problems, theft and other maladies than from all predators combined. In the states where wolves live, less than one percent of unwanted cattle and sheep losses are attributed to wolves. You can view our livestock losses reports for wolves, grizzly bears and mountain lions.

The delisting will result in more wolves like Spitfire, a beautiful and much-admired black wolf, being killed. Spitfire was shot by a trophy hunter as she stepped outside the bounds of Yellowstone National Park. Wolves are worth millions of dollars to the economies of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, studies show, because of the millions who visit national parks in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Montana State Sen. Mike Phillips has introduced a bill to create a buffer zone to protect wolves who venture from Yellowstone National Park into Montana.

Media contact:

Alison Shapiro: 301-721-6472, ashapiro@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.