Press Release

WASHINGTON (September 28, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Raul Ruiz, D- California, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong advocacy on animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in California’s 36th Congressional District to support Rep. Ruiz for re-election.

“Rep. Ruiz has a strong record of support for animal welfare legislation while in Congress,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Voters in the 36th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Raul Ruiz for re-election.”

In the 114th Congress, Rep. Ruiz:

• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Supported the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), to update chemical safety tests and reduce or eliminate the testing of tens of thousands of chemicals on animals;
• Supported funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and USDA positions through student loan forgiveness;
• Opposed a harmful rider that sought to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing new rules to crack down on the domestic ivory trade and help stop the poaching and slaughter of elephants for their tusks;
• Opposed measures to substantially weaken the Endangered Species Act and strip federal protections from wolves and other imperiled species;
• Opposed the so-called Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), a grab bag of the most extreme practices involving trophy hunting and commercial trapping of wild animals.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 28, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong advocacy for animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in California’s 7th Congressional District to support Rep. Bera in November’s general election.

“A win for Ami Bera would be a win for humane values,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Rep. Bera is a strong and influential voice for animals; as reliable an ally as any in Congress. Voters in the 7th District who care about animal welfare should support Rep. Bera for re-election.”

The HSLF publishes an annual Humane Scorecard to give voters a snapshot of every federal legislator's record on animal protection issues; Rep. Bera received a perfect score of “100” in the Midterm Report for the 114th Congress.

Among his efforts in the 114th Congress, Rep. Bera:

• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 1258) 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. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2858) to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Opposed a harmful rider that sought to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing new rules to crack down on the domestic ivory trade and help stop the poaching and slaughter of elephants for their tusks;
• Opposed measures to substantially weaken the Endangered Species Act and strip federal protections from wolves and other imperiled species;
• Supported the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), to update chemical safety tests and reduce or eliminate the testing of tens of thousands of chemicals on animals;
• Supported funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and USDA positions through student loan forgiveness;
• Opposed the so-called Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), a grab bag of the most extreme practices involving trophy hunting and commercial trapping of wild animals.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 27, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing her strong record as a leader and advocate for animal protection, the HSLF urges New Hampshire voters to support Sen. Ayotte in November’s general election.

Sen. Ayotte is a leading voice for animals in the U.S. Congress, working to protect pets, horses, and other creatures from cruelty and abuse. She received a perfect score of “100” in HSLF’s 2015 Humane Scorecard, which grades legislators based on their support for welfare protection issues.

“Kelly Ayotte has been a top proponent of animal protection and animal welfare issues in the U.S. Senate,” Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “We are pleased to endorse her for another term, and encourage all New Hampshire voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to also support Sen. Ayotte in November.”

In the 114th Congress, Sen. Ayotte:

• Is the lead sponsor of the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (S. 1559), to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of battered women’s shelters to accommodate pets;
• Is the lead sponsor of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (S. 1121), to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce an artificially high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (S. 1831) 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 (S. 1214), to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Supported funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and USDA positions through student loan forgiveness.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 (September 27, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong advocacy on animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in California’s 31st Congressional District to support Rep. Aguilar in November’s general election.

“Pete Aguilar has demonstrated strong support for a number of animal welfare issues,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Voters in the 31st District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Pete Aguilar for re-election.”

Among his efforts in the 114th Congress, Rep. Aguilar:

• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 1258) 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. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2858) to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Opposed a harmful rider that sought to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing new rules to crack down on the domestic ivory trade and help stop the poaching and slaughter of elephants for their tusks;
• Opposed measures to substantially weaken the Endangered Species Act and strip federal protections from wolves and other imperiled species;
• Opposed the so-called Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), a grab bag of the most extreme practices involving trophy hunting and commercial trapping of wild animals.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 (September 27, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong leadership and advocacy on animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District to support Rep. Beyer in November’s general election.

In HSLF’s 2015 Humane Scorecard, which rates candidates based on their support for animal protection policies, Rep. Beyer earned a score of “100+” for backing the complete range of priority animal legislation and leading on several issues.

“Don Beyer has prioritized the protection of animals while in Congress,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Voters in the 8th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Rep. Beyer for re-election.”

Among his efforts in the 114th Congress, Rep. Beyer:

• Co-introduced the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2858), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics;
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 1258) 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. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Supported the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), to update chemical safety tests and reduce or eliminate the testing of tens of thousands of chemicals on animals;
• Supported funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and USDA positions through student loan forgiveness;
• Opposed the so-called Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), a grab bag of the most extreme practices involving trophy hunting and commercial trapping of wild animals;
• Opposed a harmful rider that sought to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing new rules to crack down on the domestic ivory trade and help stop the poaching and slaughter of elephants for their tusks;
• Opposed measures to substantially weaken the Endangered Species Act and strip federal protections from wolves and other imperiled species.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 (September 27, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Louis Barletta, R-Pennsylvania, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong leadership and advocacy on animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District to support Rep. Barletta in November’s general election.

“Lou Barletta has routinely supported advancements in animal welfare,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Voters in the 11th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Rep. Barletta for re-election.”

Among his efforts in the 114th Congress, Rep. Barletta:

• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 1258) 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. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 (September 27, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong leadership and advocacy on animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District to support Rep. Blumenauer in November’s general election.

Rep. Blumenauer is co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus (CAPC), a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress. In 2015, he received a perfect score of “100+” on HSLF’s 2015 Humane Scorecard, having supported the full range of priority animal legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and leading on multiple issues.

“Earl Blumenauer has been a tremendous force for animal protection, helping drive an enormous range of good outcomes for animals at the federal level,” said Wayne Pacelle, executive vice president of the HSLF. “He is the leader on animal welfare in the Congress, and voters in the 3rd District who care about the humane treatment of animals should back his re-election.”

Among his efforts in the 114th Congress, Rep. Blumenauer:

• Introduced the Animal Welfare in Agricultural Research Endeavors (AWARE) Act (H.R. 746) to amend the Animal Welfare Act to require humane treatment of animals by federal government facilities;
• Co-introduced the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Co-introduced the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2920) to prohibit interstate commerce in monkeys, apes and other primates for the exotic pet trade;
• Led a group letter requesting funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and USDA positions through student loan forgiveness;
• Led on a letter to the Department of Interior urging swift action to finalize its proposed rule listing African lions as endangered;
• Led on a letter to the Department of Agriculture urging action for Nosey, an ailing circus elephant held by a notorious exhibitor and forced to perform despite crippling arthritis;
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 1258) to protect the human and animal victims of domestic violence and support the work of battered women’s shelters to accommodate pets;
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2858), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Supported the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), to update chemical safety tests and reduce or eliminate the testing of tens of thousands of chemicals on animals;
• Opposed a harmful rider that sought to block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing new rules to crack down on the domestic ivory trade and help stop the poaching and slaughter of elephants for their tusks;
• Opposed measures to substantially weaken the Endangered Species Act and strip federal protections from wolves and other imperiled species;
• Opposed the so-called Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), a grab bag of the most extreme practices involving trophy hunting and commercial trapping of wild animals.

Blumenauer is also a chief petitioner for the Yes on Measure 100 campaign in Oregon, to prohibit wildlife trafficking and the trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn, and other animal parts.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 27, 2016)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Representative Ed Royce, R-California, for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing his strong advocacy for animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in California’s 39th Congressional District to support Rep. Royce for re-election.

“Ed Royce has served as a leader on animal welfare issues during his time in office, especially working to save rare wildlife species and crack down on poaching and wildlife trafficking,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the HSLF. “Voters in the 39th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Rep. Royce for re-election.”

In the 114th Congress, Rep. Royce:

• Sponsored the Global Anti-Poaching Act (H.R. 2494) to support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, designate major wildlife trafficking countries, strengthen law enforcement tools by applying provisions of the federal criminal code concerning money laundering and racketeering to wildlife trafficking violations and make other needed reforms;
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1942) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas;
• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 3268) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait;
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 2293) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws;
• Supported the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), to update chemical safety tests and reduce or eliminate the testing of tens of thousands of chemicals on animals.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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 (Aug. 30, 2016) – The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, congratulates Matt Gaetz for his commanding win in the Republican primary in the First Congressional District in Florida tonight.

“Matt Gaetz is a leader on mainstream animal protection issues, and we’re delighted he’s one giant step closer to winning a seat in Congress,” said Wayne Pacelle, executive vice president of the HSLF. “We know he’ll be a voice for animal welfare and fiscal restraint if he prevails in November.”

Throughout his legal career and subsequent tenure in the Florida House of Representatives, Matt Gaetz has been a strong and reliable champion for the cause of animal protection. An outspoken leader in the ongoing fight to end Florida’s cruel state-sponsored greyhound racing program, Gaetz recently cosponsored legislation to require the reporting of all injuries sustained by greyhounds on Florida racetracks. He co-introduced and passed H.B. 851, which updated Florida’s animal protection laws to hold abusers accountable for every act of cruelty they commit. As an attorney, he sued Okaloosa County to stop a “pet tax.”

The HSLF urges voters in Florida’s First Congressional District to support Gaetz in November’s general election.

Media Contact: John Cleveland, (202) 676-2338, jcleveland@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.

(May 18, 2016) - The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation's leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, congratulates Brad Avakian on his victory in the Democratic primary election for Oregon Secretary of State.

During his tenure in the Oregon state legislature, Brad had a strong record on protecting animals. He supported legislation that ended canned hunts and internet hunting as well as increased penalties for dog fighting.

“As a former legislator, we know Brad to always be open to our concerns on animal welfare and on numerous occasions delivered his vote for their protection and welfare,” said Joe Maxwell, senior political director of the HSLF.

Avakian overcame two Democratic primary challengers to secure his victory and will now face the Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 general election.

HSLF had mounted an independent expenditure campaign, including TV ads, opposing Avakian’s primary opponent, Val Hoyle. As House Majority Leader, Hoyle blocked legislation that would have banned the trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn to crack down on the rampant poaching of these majestic creatures, and she supported weakening the state’s protections for bears, cougars, and wolves.

Media Contact: Stephanie Twining, stwining@hslf.org, 301-258-1491

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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.