Press Release

WASHINGTON (June 1, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Jared Polis in the primary for governor of Colorado.

Currently, Rep. Polis is a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress. In 2017, he received a perfect score of “100+” on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, having supported the full range of priority animal legislation that HSLF scored in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Jared Polis consistently champions the federal animal protection legislative agenda in Congress and residents of his district should be proud of his record of humane leadership,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to support Jared Polis, and voters who care about the humane treatment of animals should back his election to become the next governor of Colorado.”

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

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) 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 (PAWS) Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of battered women’s shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) 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 (SAFE) Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales/Trade Elimination Act (H.R. 1456) to prohibit the trade of shark fins.
• Cosponsored 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.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Voted against the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 21) which would allow Congress to overturn regulations en masse in the last year of a president’s term, endangering popular and broadly supported animal welfare regulations.
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a Fish and Wildlife Services 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 NPS lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.

Media Contact:202-676-2325, 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.

(May 24, 2018)—The United States Senate Appropriations Committee passed the FY19 Agriculture Appropriations bill with a provision to maintain the ban on the slaughter of horses and burros for human consumption on U.S. soil. The provision bars spending by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect horse slaughterhouses, saving millions of taxpayer dollars, and effectively banning horse slaughter in the United States.

Similar language was included in the FY18 omnibus spending bill and has been maintained in most spending bills since 2005. The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund, along with many other horse rescues and industry groups across the nation, strongly support this effort.

Holly Gann, federal legislative specialist at the Humane Society of the United States, said:

"Horse slaughter is fundamentally un-American and has no place in the U.S. This predatory industry enables theft and criminal abuse of horses at the cost of our hard earned tax dollars. We commend the Senate Appropriations Committee for adopting this legislation, sending a strong message that horse slaughter will never be accepted in this country. We applaud their leadership in taking a stand that reflects the will of 80 percent of the American public."

The House version of the agriculture appropriations bill includes funding for horse slaughter inspections.

We urge Congress to continue the ban on slaughtering horses in the U.S. and pass the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 113/S.1706, which would permanently bring an end to this cruel and predatory industry, including exports of U.S. horses for slaughter in other countries.

Media contact: Shayna McClelland: 301-258-1534; smcclelland@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 (May 04, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, condemned the alleged neglect of animals at a testing facility once owned by candidate for governor Shri Thanedar.

Michiganders have a long history of widespread support for animal protection and have repeatedly gone to the ballot box and their legislature to protect wolves, doves, and puppies.

"Michigan voters have shown time and time again that animal welfare is a key issue when casting their ballots for issues or candidates," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Monkeys and dogs were not provided basic humane care in this case of alleged neglect. We applaud the animal rescue organizations that stepped in to give these animals a second chance.”

Thanedar reportedly continued this neglect by fighting efforts to place the dogs and monkeys into sanctuaries. Using the care and custody of animals to "make a point" in a legal proceeding is inhumane and unjust.

Media contact: Press@HSLF.org

BACKGROUND

"The animals' caretakers had reportedly climbed fences to provide food and water until more solid arrangements were made."—USA Today: Pet Talk: Rescuing 118 test-lab beagles is a labor of dog love

"About 170 dogs and monkeys were rescued in 2010 from an abandoned pharmaceutical testing lab owned by Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate currently leading in the polls."—Huffpost: Over 100 Dogs And Monkeys Were Rescued From Michigan Democrat’s Shuttered Company

"A top Democratic contender in the Michigan governor's race fought to sell off more than 100 animals at a shuttered pharmaceutical testing facility he owned, court records show, contradicting his account of events that culminated in the neglected animals' rescue."—Huffpost: Michigan Gov. Candidate Delayed Rescue Of Animals He Claims He Tried To Save

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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 with regulated funds 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 (May 01, 2018) —Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Peter Courtney in the Democratic Party primary for Oregon’s 11th Senate District.

"As Senate President, Peter Courtney has been a critical ally in bringing pro-animal bills for a vote," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to support Senator Peter Courtney, and voters in the 11th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should back his re-election."

Among his efforts in the Oregon Senate, Sen. Courtney voted for:

2017

• H.B. 2625, allowing authorities to seek ownership of all animals seized in animal crime cases.
• H.B. 2732, allowing private citizen to break into a vehicle to rescue a child or domestic animal.
• H.B. 2883, increasing penalties for guides and outfitters who violate wildlife laws.
• H.B. 3177, allowing the seizure of chicks and hens (along with roosters) to enforce the cockfighting ban.
• H.B. 3283, increasing penalties for animal neglect and strengthening protection for pet parrots.

2016

• H.B. 4046, increasing penalties for poaching.

2015

• H.B. 2693, increasing penalties for sexual abuse of an animal and making it a crime to possess visual depictions of sexual abuse of an animal.
• H.B. 2694, allowing state social workers to report to law enforcement animal abuse and neglect they see on the job and providing limited immunity from civil liability for such reports.
• H.B. 2888, adding to a list of statutory nuisances a property where animal abuse or neglect is occurring and allowing private citizens to sue to abate the nuisance.
• S.B. 4, expanding the definition of “animal rescue entity,” subject to licensing and inspection, to include entities with animals housed in different locations.
• S.B. 175, continuing increased penalties for certain egregious wildlife crimes, including poaching to sell animal parts.
• S.B. 614, authorizing law enforcement to enter a vehicle and take custody of an animal to prevent abuse or neglect.
• S.B.913, would have prohibited trade within Oregon of ivory, rhino horns and certain other animal parts to help reduce poaching in other countries.

Laws like these have helped to make Oregon a standout among other states in the nation on animal welfare laws.

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 (May 01, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Joe Neguse for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District.

As the head of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Neguse ensured the Department supported legislation at the state level to positively benefit the welfare of animals.

"Joe Neguse has pledged to be a committed supporter of common sense animal protection measures," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to support his candidacy and looks forward to working with him to pass important animal welfare legislation."

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

• Supporting the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act 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 (PAST) Act 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 Humane Cosmetics Act to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

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, DC (April 16, 2018)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund announces Sara Amundson as its new president, after she served 12 years as HSLF’s executive director and then as HSLF senior vice president. She has worked to build the organization’s legislative and regulatory strategy, and strengthened its commitment to the support of humane candidates for office at the state and federal levels.

Amundson succeeds Michael Markarian, the Chief Operating Officer of The Humane Society of the United States, who served as HSLF president for 13 years and now serves in the role of HSLF executive vice president.

"Sara Amundson has been a powerful force within HSLF and within the broader animal protection movement," states David O. Wiebers, M.D., chairperson of the HSLF board. "We are thrilled to have her as president of HSLF and to see her further the extraordinary work of Michael Markarian, Sara’s leadership and innovation have been and will continue to be profound assets to HSLF and its affiliates."

Amundson’s 30-year career in animal protection started with the Doris Day Animal League in 1988. Since then, she has maintained a strong presence before Congress and state legislatures, testifying on a variety of critical animal protection issues. Her work on the "retail pet store" rule brought new regulation to puppy mills, and her tireless campaign for the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act led to a reduction in use of animals in chemical testing. She helped to negotiate a deal with chemical industry leaders to support the replacement of animals in toxicity testing through federal appropriations and voluntary commitments. Her work with the chemical industry also prompted a voluntarily move to include a bittering agent in antifreeze in order to discourage pets from consuming it.

Of her new position, Amundson stated, "I am honored to lead HSLF, alongside an army of committed individuals who know the value of supporting humane candidates championing animal protection policies. Together, we will advocate for all animals within the halls of state legislatures and the U.S. Congress to build a more humane society."

Currently, HSLF and its partner organizations are working to make the United States the next cruelty-free marketplace by supporting the bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act, which has 170 House cosponsors; securing more cruelty-free pledges as a founding member of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ Leaping Bunny Program; and promoting humane innovation.

Markarian said, "I am grateful to Sara Amundson for her leadership and to our entire staff of the Humane Society Legislative Fund for working to advance our critical policy and political agenda for animals, and look forward to many future advances to protect animals from cruelty and abuse.”

Media Contact: Anna West: awest@hslf.org; 301-258-1518

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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.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 11, 2018)—The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, and the Humane Society Legislative Fund praise the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for issuing its draft policy that encourages the use of non-animal testing methods. The policy’s recommendations apply to methods used in assessing the potential of pesticides and industrial chemicals to cause skin allergies.

In the EPA’s official statement on the draft policy, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt stated, “This draft policy is another step toward achieving EPA's goal of reducing the use of animals and increasing the use of cutting-edge science in chemical testing.”

Traditional animal tests for skin allergies involve the application of a test chemical to the skin of guinea pigs or mice, who are later killed and examined for signs of an allergic response. However, recent studies have shown that non-animal methods are more accurate than traditional animal tests in predicting allergic skin reactions in humans.

“We commend the EPA for taking this important step toward eliminating the use of animals by adopting more human-relevant methods of testing,” said Catherine Willett, director of regulatory toxicology, risk assessment and alternatives for The HSUS and HSI. “We urge the agency to move quickly to extend the scope and replace all animal use for skin allergy testing.”

The draft interim policy, titled Use of Alternative Approaches for Skin Sensitization as a Replacement for Laboratory Animal Testing supports the use of non-animal methods for single chemical substances, such as pesticide active ingredients, but not mixtures or formulations. However, the EPA is currently working to extend the policy to formulations.

Facts:

• EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs is working to reduce its reliance on animal testing for acute toxicity, an effort outlined in a letter to stakeholders in 2016, when it also released guidance to eliminate the need for lethal-dose skin tests for pesticide ingredients.
• Also in 2016, HSLF and The HSUS campaigned for the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which revised the Toxic Substances Control Act. TSCA covers industrial chemicals and requires the minimization of animal testing with a clear preference for the development and use of alternative methods and strategies.
• HSUS and HSI have been working to support the science to replace animal testing for skin allergy and other health concerns on a number of national and international fronts, including the test guidelines program of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Media Contact: Shayna McClelland: smcclelland@humanesociety.org; 301.258.1534

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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 (April 9, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of incumbent Norma Torres in the primary for California’s 35th Congressional District.

Rep. Torres received a score of 91 out of 100 on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, having supported the full range of priority animal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Norma Torres consistently supports the federal animal protection legislative agenda in Congress,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to support Norma Torres, and voters in the 35th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should back her re-election.”

Among her efforts in the 115th Congress, Rep. Torres:

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) 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 (PAWS) Act (H.R. 909 and S.322) to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of battered women’s shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 1494 and S.654) 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 (SAFE) Act (H.R. 113 and S. 1706) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales/Trade Elimination Act (H.R. 1456 and S.793) to prohibit the trade of shark fins.
• Cosponsored 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.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Voted against the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 21) which would allow Congress to overturn regulations en masse in the last year of a president’s term, endangering popular and broadly supported animal welfare regulations.
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a Fish and Wildlife Services 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 NPS lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.

Media Contact: Brad Pyle, BPyle@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 (March 13, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Dan Lipinski in the Democratic Party primary for Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District.

Rep. Lipinski is a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus (CAPC), a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress. In 2017, he received a perfect score of “100” on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, having supported the full range of priority animal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Dan Lipinski has been a stalwart supporter for animal protection legislation while in Congress," said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is excited to support Dan Lipinski, and voters in the 3rd District who care about the humane treatment of animals should back his re-election.”

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

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) 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 (PAWS) Act (H.R. 909 and S.322) to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of battered women’s shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 1494 and S.654) 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 (SAFE) Act (H.R. 113 and S. 1706) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales/Trade Elimination Act (H.R. 1456 and S.793) to prohibit the trade of shark fins.
• Cosponsored 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.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Voted against the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 21) which would allow Congress to overturn regulations en masse in the last year of a president’s term, endangering popular and broadly supported animal welfare regulations.
• Voted against the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (H.R. 26) which would negate broadly supported rules, including commonsense measures to implement and enforce animal protection laws
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a Fish and Wildlife Services 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 NPS lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.

Media Contact: Lauren Selsky, (202-768-6821), LSelsky@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 (February 27, 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 a County Commissioner, Escobar ensured important animal welfare programs had the resources they needed to succeed. She increased access to low-cost spay-neuter programs for needy families and provided funding for inmates to train unclaimed animals to prepare them for adoption so that more dogs could find loving homes.

"Veronica Escobar has been a champion for animals throughout her life," said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is excited to support her candidacy and work with her to pass important animal welfare legislation."

Escobar has also committed to work on important animal welfare issues including:

• Supporting the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act to strengthen the federal animal crush video law enacted in 2010.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act to ban the commercial slaughter of dogs or cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act to make it harder for abusers to prey on their partners and their pets by allowing pets to be protected across state lines when restraining orders are issued, and authorizing grant money so domestic violence shelters can accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act 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 (PAST) Act to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses, which involves using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Humane Cosmetics Act to prohibit the manufacture and sale of animal-tested cosmetics.

Media contact: Anna West, (301) 258-1518, awest@humanesociety.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.