Press Release

WASHINGTON (October 3, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Martin Heinrich of New Mexico for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Heinrich led the charge in the Senate to oppose H.J.Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution that allowed egregiously cruel and unsporting hunting methods on more than 76 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. He also vocally opposed the administration’s efforts to eliminate and diminish national monuments, which are home to numerous wildlife species.

"Sen. Heinrich is a leading voice in the Senate for the protection of our wildlife," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our endorsement, and we encourage voters who love animals to back his re-election."

Sen. Heinrich supports important federal animal welfare legislation while opposing bills that would harm animals, including:

• Voted for Senate Amendment 3074 to the Farm Bill, to correct abuses that have undermined agriculture promotion programs and to prevent funds intended to promote American agricultural products from being misused to lobby against animal welfare reforms and family farmer interests.
• Voted against House Joint Resolution 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that prohibits specific egregiously cruel and unsporting hunting methods on more than 76 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety Act (S.322) to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act (S.793) to prohibit the trade of shark fins, for which sharks are hunted and their maimed bodies returned to the ocean.
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (S. 2957) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.

Media Contact: press@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.

WASHINGTON (September 24, 2018)—Less than 24 hours after Judge Dana Christensen’s order restoring Endangered Species Act protections to Yellowstone-area grizzly bears, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. introduced a bill that would reverse the Yellowstone-area grizzly court ruling, despite the fact that Rep. Cheney’s attempt to add the bill to a wolf delisting bill (H.R. 6784) in the House Resources Committee was quashed as “non-germane”. Rep. Cheney’s attempt to amend the wolf delisting bill to add a provisions that would remove federal ESA protections from grizzly bears and prevent any kind of judicial review of that removal is worrisome and the problem is not over.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Humane Society of the United States are criticizing the move and eyeing a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee that would remove Endangered Species Act protection for wolves, despite a similar court ruling that restored protection for wolves.

Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement:

“Some members of Congress and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are moving to remove federal protections from wildlife threatened with extinction. This is shameful pandering to a vocal minority of special interests and an affront to American taxpayers who have supported and underwritten decades of efforts restoring these species. The duty of the federal government is to protect threatened and endangered species, not to pander to trophy hunters and predator-control agents. Cutting off citizens’ access to our judicial system is just not the American way.”

Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, said:

“The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased the House Natural Resources Committee struck Rep. Cheney’s attempt to legislatively delist grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act. However, we are concerned Rep. Cheney’s standalone bill is an added marker in the quest to delist, but we will continue to fight for these bears to remain protected under the ESA from cruel trophy hunting. Any legislative attempt to overturn a court decision is blatantly disregarding the American public’s wishes. Congress and the Administration continue to attempt to dismantle the ESA irrespective of the majority of American’s support for providing protections for imperiled species.”

Media Contacts:

Kirsten Peek: 301-548-7793, kpeek@humanesociety.org

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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.

Billionaire Texas hunter seeks to import endangered animal’s entire body

WASHINGTON (September 24, 2018)—Conservation and animal-welfare groups today urged Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider a federal decision to allow a Texas billionaire to import a critically endangered black rhino shot as a trophy hunt in Namibia.

The Fish and Wildlife Service gave notice Sept. 20 of its intent to issue the permit in 10 days. Black rhinos are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, but the government unlawfully approves trophy imports in a “pay-to-play” scheme.

Today’s letter from the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Center for Biological Diversity argues that such permits undermine conservation of Africa’s endangered wildlife, contrary to industry claims. “[K]illing a critically endangered rhinoceros and importing the trophy does not benefit the species,” the letter states.

The approximately 27-year-old western black rhino was shot last year by the Dallas hunter, who has his own museum of trophy kills. The permit application notes the intent to import a life-size mount of the rhino.

“Approving this permit betrays the core principles of the Endangered Species Act. The Fish and Wildlife Service is endorsing the import of a hunting trophy of an endangered species under the pretense that killing animals promotes conservation,” said Anna Frostic, managing wildlife attorney with the Humane Society of the United States. “It is telling that the three endangered species that FWS has authorized trophy imports for — black rhinoceros, bontebok and cape mountain zebra — are highly prized by trophy hunters.”

Black rhinos are highly imperiled with roughly only 5,500 existing worldwide by 2015, of which 1,946 are in Namibia.

“It’s disgusting to see federal wildlife officials giving a Texas billionaire a pat on the back for blowing away this incredibly rare rhino,” said Tanya Sanerib, international legal director with the Center for Biological Diversity. “We shouldn’t be sanctioning the death of this majestic animal by allowing this trophy into the United States. The cruelty of trophy hunting simply doesn’t comport with efforts to save Africa’s imperiled wildlife.”

Poaching of rhinos for their highly coveted horns still threatens to drive the species toward extinction. Official Namibian government figures show that rhino poaching escalated from nearly zero to more than 80 in 2016, and the vast majority of rhinos poached were black rhinos. Due to the poaching crisis, the country is under consideration to join a handful of “Priority Countries for Attention” at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which will meet in Russia next week.

The agency also approved elephant and lion trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia last fall and has adopted policies favorable to trophy hunters.

The administration set up the International Wildlife Conservation Council, an advisory committee packed primarily with trophy hunters to further advise officials on how to liberalize trophy imports. The council is scheduled to meet later this week. The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Natural Resources Defense Council, represented by Democracy Forward, have a pending lawsuit in New York challenging the various illegalities in the establishment and operation of the IWCC.

Media Contacts:

Nancy Hwa, Humane Society International, (202) 596-0808 nhwa@hsi.org

Tanya Sanerib, Center for Biological Diversity, (206) 379-7363, tsanerib@biologicaldiversity.org

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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.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

WASHINGTON (September 20, 2018)—Two days before World Rhino Day, in a disgraceful action that disregards the precarious status of a critically endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has granted approval for the importation of a black rhino hunting trophy into the United States from Namibia, where rhino poaching has dramatically increased in recent years. The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, and the Humane Society Legislative Fund call on the agency to rescind its approval and deny any other trophy import permits to hunters seeking to import their kills of the world’s last remaining black rhinos.

“It is shocking that the Fish and Wildlife Service has chosen to issue a permit when rhino poaching in Namibia has skyrocketed from zero in 2006 to 90 rhinos killed in 2015. The agency should not endorse the killing of a critically endangered species to cater to a wealthy few,” said Iris Ho, senior specialist for wildlife programs and policy at Humane Society International. “The rise of rhino poaching in Namibia shatters the claim that trophy hunting benefits conservation. The United States shouldn’t indulge such pay-to-slay schemes by trophy hunters in search of gruesome prizes to take home. We call on the Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind this permit.”

Background information:

• Two trophy hunting organizations, the Dallas Safari Club Foundation and Conservation Force, auctioned off the killing of the rhino in December 2016 for $275,000. The hunt took place on Feb. 26, 2017, at the Veronica Game Lodge in Namibia. Conservation Force filed the import permit application on behalf of the billionaire hunter on April 12, 2017, and the USFWS opened a 30-day public comment period on Jan. 4, 2018.
• Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to import endangered species unless such action is determined to enhance the propagation or survival of the species or for scientific purposes. Given the increasingly precarious status of black rhinos and the fact that trophy hunting itself constitutes a threat to the species, this vanity import fails to meet that standard.
• Fewer than 5,500 wild black rhinos are left in the world, with just 1,946 in Namibia. Poaching of black rhinos and white rhinos there jumped from zero in 2006 to 30 in 2014 and then tripled to 90 just one year later. The vast majority of rhinos poached in Namibia between 2014 and 2016 were black rhinos. According to the IUCN Species Survival Commission African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups and TRAFFIC, “The geographical shift in poaching to Namibia over the last two years is worrying.”

Media Contact: Nancy Hwa: 202-676-2337 (office), 202-596-0808 (cell); nhwa@hsi.org

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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.

WASHINGTON (September 19, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Dr. Kim Schrier for Washington’s 8th Congressional District.

"Dr. Schrier is a strong proponent of wildlife protection legislation. As a pet owner, parent, and pediatrician, the humane treatment of animals is of personal importance to her," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters who love animals to back her election."

Schrier has pledged to support critical federal animal welfare issues, including:

• Supporting the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Supporting the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 4693) to upgrade standards of care for dogs in large-scale commercial breeding operations.
• Supporting the Welfare of our Friends Act (H.R. 4691) to prevent problem dog breeders from receiving USDA licenses.

Media Contact: press@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.

WASHINGTON (September 12, 2018)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Humane Society of the United States are applauding House passage of three pro-animal measures on the suspension calendar today – a bill to prohibit the dog and cat meat trade in the U.S., a resolution to urge other nations to end the dog and cat meat trade in their countries, and a bill to combat wildlife trafficking globally. All three passed by voice vote following strong bipartisan statements of support.

H.R. 6720 makes it illegal to knowingly slaughter, ship, transport, move, deliver, receive, possess, purchase, sell or donate a dog or cat or his or her parts for human consumption, and authorizes a fine of up to $5,000 for each violation. H. Res. 401 urges the governments of China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India and other nations to adopt and enforce existing laws banning the dog and cat meat trade.

“We commend Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., for their leadership in getting the overwhelming majority of the U.S. House to pass legislation to end the horrific cruelty of the dog and cat meat trade,” said Humane Society Legislative Fund President Sara Amundson. “Today’s action demonstrates the commitment of Congress to prevent a truly appalling trade from taking hold in the U.S. and to strengthen our hand in seeking to end it worldwide. Around 30 million dogs and untold numbers of cats are subjected to this brutal industry globally every year, with animals often snatched off the street or stolen from loving families, still wearing collars as they are subjected to unspeakable abuse to end up on someone’s dinner plate. We thank our supporters who contacted their legislators to help advance this priority campaign led by our colleagues at Humane Society International.”

The House global resolution is now finished. The groups urge the Senate to swiftly approve the common-sense domestic ban bill, which mirrors provisions the Senate already passed in July as part of its Farm Bill. (The precursor ban bill, H.R. 1406, was incorporated into the House Farm Bill, and has 245 cosponsors.)

Momentum is growing around the world to end the dog and cat meat trade. Humane Society International/Korea recently delivered 1 million signatures to end the dog meat industry to South Korean President Moon Jae-In. HSI has worked with South Korean dog meat farmers to help them transition to more humane livelihoods, closing 12 dog meat farms and bringing more than 1,300 dogs to Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States where they could be placed for adoption. The dog meat trade is outlawed in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. The government of Indonesia has also pledged to ban the trade. In a 2016 poll, more than 8.6 million Chinese people expressed support for a proposal to ban trade in dog and cat meat, making it the most popular of all 142 legislative proposals made available for online voting in China that year.

“We also applaud Reps. Dan Donovan, R- N.Y., and Joaquin Castro, D- Tex., for their leadership to end the scourge of wildlife trafficking,” Amundson said. H.R. 6197, the Rescuing Animals with Rewards (RAWR) Act, builds on a law enacted in 2016 (P.L. 114-231). This bill authorizes the Department of State to use its successful rewards program to target wildlife traffickers.

“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,” Amundson said. “The RAWR Act provides an important additional tool to combat illegal wildlife trafficking on a global scale.”

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

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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 (September 7, 2018)—The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud the 218 Representatives—constituting a majority of the U.S. House—who have signed on as sponsors and cosponsors of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act to finally bring an end to the export and slaughter of American equines for human consumption. With broad bipartisan support, the bill aims to protect our nation’s equines from the cruel and predatory horse slaughter industry, which is opposed by an overwhelming majority of Americans, enriches a tiny handful of profiteers and places all of our equine companions at risk.

“We commend these federal legislators who have taken a stand with most Americans who view our horses as partners in work, recreation and sport, and as cultural icons for the crucial role they’ve played in our nation’s history,” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “With a bipartisan majority supporting the bill, we urge House leadership to put the SAFE Act on the suspension calendar for a vote soon, and the Senate to follow suit.”

The SAFE Act’s lead sponsors—Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.; Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.; Ed Royce, R-Calif.; and Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M.— introduced the measure in early January 2017, and the bill has since steadily gained support from representatives around the country from both parties. Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced a parallel bill, S. 1706, in August 2017 that now has 30 sponsors and cosponsors.

Media Contact: Alison Shapiro: 301-721-6472; ashapiro@humanesociety.org

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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 (August 28, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Peter King for New York’s 2nd Congressional District..

Rep. Peter King received a score of “83” on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, cosponsoring a wide range of animal protection legislation, while voting against bills that would dismantle existing protections for animals. Rep. King has helped lead efforts to protect wild horses, end wildlife trafficking, and crack down on the ivory trade in annual funding legislation. He also voted for an amendment to the Farm Bill that would clearly extend current animal fighting prohibitions to all U.S. jurisdictions, including the U.S. territories (H.Amdt. 630).

"Rep. Peter King has been a consistent advocate for animals in Congress," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters in New York’s 2nd Congressional District to back his re-election."

In addition to his voting record, Rep. Peter King is a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress.

Among his efforts in the 115th Congress, Rep. King:

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 1456) to prohibit the trade of shark fins, for which sharks are hunted and their maimed bodies returned to the ocean.
• Coponsored the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that prohibits specific egregiously cruel and unsporting hunting methods on more than 76 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.
• Voted against a harmful rider (H.Amdt. 351) that sought to block regulations that prohibit scientifically unjustified and cruel methods of trophy hunting on over 20 million acres of National Park Service lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.

Media Contact: press@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.

WASHINGTON (August 28, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Veronica Escobar for Texas’ 16th Congressional District.

As El Paso County Commissioner, Escobar worked to fund a low-cost spay/neuter program in unincorporated areas of the county. She was also able to secure funding for Pets Advancing Wellness and Success, which is a program operated by the El Paso County Sheriff to provide vocational training for inmates who help care for animals who have been returned after being adopted. The program provides job skills for the inmates and benefits animals who might not otherwise get another chance to be placed in new homes.

"Veronica Escobar has clearly demonstrated her commitment to animal welfare," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters who love animals to back her election to the U.S. Congress."

Escobar has pledged to support important federal animal welfare issues, including:

• Supporting the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Supporting the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 4693) to upgrade standards of care for dogs in large-scale commercial breeding operations.
• Supporting the Welfare of our Friends Act (H.R. 4691) to prevent problem dog breeders from receiving USDA licenses.

Media Contact: press@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.

WASHINGTON (August 28, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Brendan Kelly for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District.

Kelly, a prosecutor in St. Clair County, helped implement an animal protection protocol to investigate and prosecute animal abuse and neglect. His office also worked to improve animal care and control in the county and to help move local shelters away from euthanizing adoptable and treatable animals.

"Brendan Kelly will be a strong voice for animal protection legislation," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters who love animals to back his election."

Kelly has pledged to support important federal animal welfare issues, including:

• Supporting the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Supporting the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 4693) to upgrade standards of care for dogs in large-scale commercial breeding operations.
• Supporting the Welfare of our Friends Act (H.R. 4691) to prevent problem dog breeders from receiving USDA licenses.

Media Contact: press@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.