Press Release

Animal Fighting Law Set To Be Strengthened, But State Farm Animal Protection Laws Threatened by King Amendment

WASHINGTON (May 16, 2013) – The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, in taking up the Farm Bill yesterday, approved an amendment to crackdown on spectators at animal fighting ventures, but also approved a destructive, constitutionally questionable amendment to strip states of their right to protect farm animals and other animals from exploitation and abuse. That amendment threatens to wipe out important state laws banning the cruelest factory farming practices and leave a raft of other state laws and rules regulating agriculture hanging in the balance.
 
The anti-animal fighting amendment, led by Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., passed with a vote of 28-17, building on the existing federal law against animal fighting by making it a crime to knowingly attend or bring a child to an animal fight. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, which took up its version of the Farm Bill on Tuesday, included a similar provision in its bill, thanks to the leadership of committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and ranking member Thad Cochran, R-Miss. With both versions of the Farm Bill including the same core provisions on animal fighting, it almost certainly will be included in any final bill approved by the Congress.
 
An amendment from Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, to wipe out numerous state animal protection laws, including those regarding factory farm confinement, horse slaughter and shark finning, along with other laws related to food safety, environmental protection, worker safety and more, passed in the committee, after a contentious debate.
 
The King amendment was approved by voice vote, despite forceful arguments raised against it by Reps. Jim Costa, D-Calif., Jeff Denham, R-Calif., John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Kurt Schrader, D-Ore.  
 
“We should have a zero-tolerance policy in our nation for staged animal fights, and the passage of anti-cruelty amendments to the House and Senate Farm Bills this week affirms that view,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “On the other hand, we are deeply distressed by the House committee’s support for the amendment to eviscerate the powers of the States to establish and maintain laws governing food safety, animal welfare, environmental and worker protections. This is a threat to every consumer and to every animal in American agriculture, and it is an attack on the 10th Amendment to the Constitution and an almost unheard-of power grab by the Congress.”
 
If passed, King’s amendment could allow the overturning of every voter-approved animal welfare ballot measure relating to agriculture, including Proposition 2 in California (banning extreme confinement crates for pigs, veal calves and laying hens), Proposition 6 in California (forbidding the sale of horses for slaughter for human consumption), Proposition 204 in Arizona (banning veal and pig gestation crates) and Amendment 10 in Florida (outlawing pig gestation crates).
 
The amendment could also nullify six other state bans on gestation crates, horse slaughter bans in six states, comprehensive animal welfare standards adopted by the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, and a raft of anti-downer laws and other animal protection laws designed to shield farm animals from abuse and extreme confinement.
 
The Senate version of the Farm Bill does not contain any language similar to the King amendment.  HSUS and other groups will work to strip the King amendment from the House Farm Bill on the floor, and also push for adoption of the landmark agreement between animal welfare groups and the egg industry in phasing out the use of conventional battery cages and creating minimum care standards for the welfare of laying hens.
 
Facts:

• Rep. King has a history of attempting to block animal welfare laws. He has voted in favor of killing horses for human consumption, killing American bison in Yellowstone National Park and trophy killing of polar bears, even though they are an endangered species. He also voted against disaster response legislation to address the needs of people with pets, passed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and consistent with his entire voting record, he opposed the McGovern amendment offered yesterday to crack down on illegal dogfighting and cockfighting.
• Spectators finance animal fights with admission fees and gambling wagers, and they provide cover to animal fighters who blend into the crowd during law enforcement raids.
• It is illegal in 49 states to be a knowing spectator at an animal fight. A majority of states impose felony-level penalties on spectators. The Farm Bill amendment will give federal agencies similar tools to what local agencies have at their disposal.
• Last year, the House Agriculture Committee passed this animal fighting amendment offered by Rep. McGovern, and a parallel amendment offered by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) was approved by a vote of 88-11 in the Senate, but Congress did not complete action on the Farm Bill in 2012.

Media Contact: Anna West, (301) 258-1518, awest@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 (April 10, 2013) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, for reelection to the New Jersey Senate in the Democratic primary to be held on June 4.

An effective and consistent leader on a wide variety of animal protection issues, Sen. Lesniak has sponsored or cosponsored legislation to:

• Fight the illegal trade in tiger parts threatening their wild population, which was passed by the Senate and the Assembly, but was vetoed; (S. 945)

• Ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the export of horsemeat and horses for slaughter, which was signed into law; (S. 1976)

• Ban the extreme confinement of breeding pigs in small gestation crates which virtually immobilize the animals on industrial factory farms for their entire lives, passed by the Senate and the Assembly; (S. 1921)

• Ban the sale and possession of shark fins, which contributes to the cruel practice of cutting off a shark’s fin for soup, disposing of the often live shark at sea;  (S. 1922)

• Increase the penalty for starvation or severe physical cruelty of an animal, passed by the Senate and the Assembly (S. 1303)

• Prohibit the practice of bear baiting, which lures bears to piles of rotting meat, jelly donuts or other human junk food to be shot at point-blank range by trophy hunters. (S. 2369)

• “Raymond Lesniak is the leading champion of animal protection issues in the New Jersey Senate,” said Michael Markarian, president of HSLF. “Time and again he has demonstrated an ability to move important bills and secure protections for animals. We are pleased to endorse him, and urge voters to reelect him.”

Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@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.

Global campaign seeks to raise awareness about animal testing and harness the power of consumers to end the cruelty

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2013) -- An end to animal testing of cosmetics is the goal of the inaugural Be Cruelty-Free Week, launched by The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. The global campaign urges consumers to get involved in creating a humane economy – both with their pocketbooks and the power of their voices. A nationwide poll conducted by Lake Research Partners found that 67 percent of American voters oppose testing cosmetics on animals.

The launch of Be Cruelty-Free Week coincides with a European Union ban on selling cosmetics newly tested on animals anywhere in the world. The HSUS and Humane Society Legislative Fund are building partnerships with scientists, government officials, and industry leaders to make the United States the next biggest cruelty-free market.

“While policy is important, consumers can act now to help animals by purchasing cruelty-free products and demanding that cosmetic companies go cruelty-free,” said Pascaline Clerc, senior director of animal research issues for The HSUS. “As these poll results demonstrate, U.S. companies still conducting tests on animals need to move away from these practices given the public’s concern for animal suffering and human safety.”

Key findings of the poll include:

• 68 percent of voters know that animals are used to test the safety of cosmetics.

• Three in four voters say that they would feel safer, or as safe, if non-animal methods were used to test the safety of a cosmetic instead of animal testing.

• Women, who are the major consumers of cosmetics, largely oppose animal testing of cosmetics, with 72 percent of those polled opposed.

• Most women - 70 percent - think animal testing of cosmetics should be illegal.

• Strong majorities of women think animal testing of cosmetics should be illegal, regardless of age, level of education or ethnicity.

• The survey of 802 U.S. registered voters, including 206 via cell phone, was conducted by Lake Research Partners from Feb. 5 - 11, 2013, and was commissioned by The HSUS and HSLF. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.47 percent. The questions and results can be viewed here.

Join the Be Cruelty-Free campaign

The HSUS encourages consumers to sign the Be Cruelty-Free pledge at humanesociety.org/becrueltyfree.

Since it can be confusing for consumers to make sense of the animal testing claims on products, consumers should buy cosmetics from companies that are certified by the Leaping Bunny – which provides the most rigorous standard in the U.S. for ensuring cosmetics are cruelty-free.

Background:

• The Food and Drug Administration does not require animal testing to prove the safety of cosmetics and personal care products such as lipstick, nail polish, eye and facial make-up, shampoo, skin creams and shaving cream, yet some cosmetics companies are still testing ingredients and finished products on animals, or purchasing new chemical ingredients from companies that carry out such testing.

• Animal testing for cosmetics causes tens of thousands of rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats to suffer through painful experiments that often end in death.

• Experiments can include skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of restrained rabbits without any pain relief. Other tests involve force feeding chemicals for weeks to months, and widely condemned lethal dose tests, in which animals are forced to swallow large amounts of a test chemical to determine the dose that causes death.

• On March 11, the European Union became a cruelty-free marketplace by implementing a ban on the sale of cosmetic products tested on animals. Israel implemented a similar ban on January 1. EU officials are challenging other countries to ban animal testing of cosmetics.

• Companies can stop animal testing immediately and still produce new products by using the thousands of ingredients that have already been proven safe. New ingredients can be tested using validated non-animal methods, including innovative technologies like lab-made human tissues. These alternatives offer results that are more relevant to people, more efficient and cost-effective, replacing outdated animal tests that were developed decades ago.

Media contact: Niki Ianni, (301) 548-7793, nianni@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.

Legislation would apply welfare requirements to online puppy sellers

WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2013) -- The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund commend federal lawmakers for reintroducing legislation that will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act regulations that currently allows puppy mills to sell dogs over the Internet without any oversight or standards of care. Puppy mills are large-scale, commercial breeding operations where dogs are commonly housed in overcrowded, filthy and inhumane conditions. The current law allows large, commercial breeders who sell puppies online or directly to the public to escape the licensing and inspection requirements that apply to breeders selling dogs to pet stores.

S. 395 and H.R. 847  — known as the PUPS Act, or "Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act"— is sponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. and David Vitter, R-La., and Reps. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif.

“Dogs shouldn't be treated like a cash crop," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, which has conducted multiple investigations of puppy mills and rescued thousands of the dogs from cruelty. "The federal law regarding the care of dogs at commercial dog-breeding operations needs an overhaul, and this legislation will correct some of the worst gaps and deficiencies in current law.”

“The media regularly reports stories about dogs rescued from substandard facilities – where dogs are housed in stacked wire cages and seriously ill and injured dogs are routinely denied access to veterinary care,” Sen. Durbin said. “Online dog sales have contributed to the rise of these sad cases. This bipartisan bill requires breeders who sell more than 50 dogs a year directly to the public to obtain a license from the USDA and ensures that the dogs receive proper care.”

"I was alarmed by the USDA IG report that exposed inhumane treatment of dogs, especially abusive breeding practices,” said Sen. Vitter. “I applaud USDA's work to close loopholes that unscrupulous breeders exploited with Internet sales, and the PUPS Act introduced by Senator Durbin and me will help ensure that puppies are treated humanely and bred in safe and sanitary facilities and that consumers can purchase healthy pets for their families."

The bill would also require that dogs used for breeding be provided daily exercise. Breeding dogs in puppy mills are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise, little or no socialization and minimal human interaction.

“We know that there are many reputable breeders who do things the right way and treat their dogs humanely. We want all breeders to play by the same rules so that everyone who wants to welcome a new dog into their family can do so with the confidence of knowing that the animal has been cared for properly,” said Rep. Gerlach. “This legislation will ensure dogs are protected and individuals who put profit ahead of the fair and humane treatment of dogs are held accountable for their actions.”

“The loophole in the Animal Welfare Act created by the Internet has resulted in widespread abuse of dogs in breeding facilities,” said Rep. Farr. “Leaving dogs crammed into small cages with no exercise or social contact goes against our humanity. The PUPS Act is necessary to end the abuses of puppy mills and restore the values of our society.”

Facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale through pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act. However, puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt from any federal oversight partly because the Animal Welfare Act was written before the birth of the Internet. Unregulated Internet sellers and other direct sales facilities sell thousands of puppies a year to unsuspecting consumers. Due to improper care by these breeders, these puppies are often sick, leaving outraged consumers with frail, sometimes dying puppies, high vet bills and broken hearts. Meanwhile, the breeding dogs at these facilities often spend their entire lives in constant confinement, suffering, and deprivation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a draft rule to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to require licensing and inspection of commercial dog breeders selling over the Internet or directly to the public, and would essentially achieve the same policy reform as the PUPS Act. But despite being proposed in May 2012 and receiving more than 350,000 public comments in favor of the rule, the agency has not yet taken final action. Similar legislation had the broad bipartisan support of 33 Senate and 216 House co-sponsors in the last session of Congress.

PUPS will close the loophole in the AWA regulations that allows thousands of commercial breeders to go unregulated. It will require the following changes to the AWA:

• All dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies per year directly to the public will be federally licensed and inspected.

• Dogs at commercial breeding facilities must be given the opportunity to exercise for 60 minutes a day.

• The bill will not affect small breeders and hobby breeders who sell fewer than 50 dogs per year directly to the public, but is crafted to cover only large commercial breeding facilities.

Media contact: Niki Ianni, (610) 999-6932, nianni@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.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2013) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsements for the March 5 city elections in Los Angeles and West Hollywood. Citing their strong support of animal protection policies, HSLF urges voters to support Eric Garcetti for Mayor of Los Angeles, Mike Feuer for City Attorney of Los Angeles, Bob Blumenfield for Los Angeles City Council and Jeffrey Prang for Mayor of West Hollywood.

"In order to have humane laws, we need to elect humane lawmakers," said Sara Amundson, executive director of Humane Society Legislative Fund. "We urge Los Angeles and West Hollywood voters to elect candidates who care about the humane treatment of animals."

Eric Garcetti, current Los Angeles City Council member running for Mayor, has helped usher through many humane ordinances, including a ban on declawing of cats as well as a moratorium on the retail sale of dogs and cats from commercial mills. Garcetti has also helped pass several animal-friendly resolutions, recognizing Elephant Awareness Day and Meatless Monday, and supported a state law to ban hound hunting of bears and bobcats.

State Assemblymember Mike Feuer, running for City Attorney of Los Angeles, is a member of the legislative animal protection caucus and has been a leader on numerous animal protection bills. Feuer has consistently received a 100 percent score on the California Humane Scorecard and has repeatedly voted to strengthen animal abuse laws, such as increasing the penalties related to dogfighting and cockfighting and prohibiting criminals convicted of animal abuse from owning animals for a specified period of time after their conviction.

State Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, running for Los Angeles City Council, is a founding member of the legislative animal protection caucus and has a 100 percent voting record on animal protection issues. As chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Blumenfield provided leadership in helping to prevent the repeal of the Hayden Law, which requires a holding period for dogs and cats at animal shelters.

Jeffrey Prang, running for re-election as Mayor of West Hollywood, has championed a number of animal protection policies. Prang led a resolution to ban pet rental franchises from operating within the city and co-authored an ordinance to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats from mills. Prang has supported West Hollywood’s ban on the sale of animal fur products within the city.

Media contact: Kaitlin Sanderson, (301) 721-6463, ksanderson@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.

Industry agrees to voluntarily take steps to protect pets, wildlife and children

WASHINGTON (Dec. 13, 2012) --The Humane Society Legislative Fund and Consumer Specialty Products Association jointly announce an agreement to voluntarily add a bitter flavoring agent to antifreeze and engine coolant manufactured for sale for the consumer market in all 50 states and the District of Columbia  to prevent animals and children from being poisoned by the sweet-tasting liquid. Poisoning occurs because animals are attracted to the sweetness of antifreeze and engine coolant, which inadvertently spills in our driveways or is left in open containers in garages.
 
“This is a ground-breaking example of what’s right with Washington,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “After years of battling over legislation addressing this important issue, the manufacturers of antifreeze and engine coolant have been working with animal advocates to pass state laws with mutually-agreed on language. Now, the Humane Society Legislative Fund applauds them for taking this important step to help protect our pets, kids and wildlife in every state.”

HSLF estimates range from 10,000 to 90,000 animals poisoned each year after ingesting ethylene glycol, the highly toxic substance used in auto antifreeze and coolant. Ethylene glycol's sweet smell and taste make it attractive to animals as well as children. The manufacturers are adding bitter-tasting denatonium benzoate to antifreeze and coolant sold directly to consumers across the country.

“Partnering with the Humane Society Legislative Fund in passing these laws in 17 states has shown by finding compromise and working together we can develop sound public policy. It is vital that consumers continue to read the labels and follow label instructions on the proper use, storage and disposal of antifreeze.  Today, all major marketers are placing the bitterant in antifreeze in all 50 states,” said Phil Klein, executive vice president, legislative and public affairs for CSPA. 

Facts:

• Seventeen states currently require the addition of the bittering agent to antifreeze and engine coolant: Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

• Oregon passed the first state law and it has been in effect since 1991.

• In one survey, two out of three veterinarians reported that they had treated at least one case of antifreeze/engine coolant poisoning each year.

• One teaspoon of antifreeze or engine coolant can kill an average-sized cat.

• Denatonium benzoate has been used in common household products and as an anti-nail biting formula for decades in the United States.

Media contacts: Heather Sullivan, HSLF, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org
Lynne Harris, CSPA, (202) 833-7311, lharris@cspa.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.

Non-Partisan Animal Welfare Organization Endorses a Democrat and a Republican for Pennsylvania Statewide Offices

WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of one Democrat and one Republican seeking statewide offices in Pennsylvania -- Kathleen Kane for Attorney General and John Maher for Auditor General. Citing both candidates strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Pennsylvania voters to support these two candidates for their respective statewide races.

The Democratic nominee for Attorney General, Kathleen Kane has pledged to make consumer protection a priority and that includes enforcement of the Dog Purchaser Protection Act, also known as the "Puppy Lemon Law." While an Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County she has prosecuted many animal cruelty cases and pledges to continue to do so as Attorney General. She believes we need to be humane to animals because it reflects how we treat other people in the community.

Kane will be a strong voice for animals. She has committed to protecting them and consumers by:

• Vowing to continue to fight for consumer protection and enforce the Puppy Lemon Law
• Bringing experience as a prosecutor of many animal cruelty cases while Asst. D.A. in Lackawanna County
• Urging support for a stronger state anti-cruelty statute

HSLF has also endorsed State Rep. John Maher in his quest to become Auditor General. “John Maher has been a leader in the state legislature on animal protection issues, and we know he’ll do all he can to help animals as Auditor General,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has a track record of getting things done, and we could not be more grateful for his focus on fighting animal cruelty.”

Rep. Maher has a consistent record of supporting anti-cruelty bills since his first day in office, and he is the House Chair of the Pennsylvania House Animal Protection Caucus. Earlier this year, Maher was named "Humane Legislator of the Year.” Among his efforts, Maher has:

• Introduced and passed HB2630, to end the use of gas chambers to euthanize dogs and cats at animal shelters in Pennsylvania, making Pennsylvania the 21st state in the country to ban them. Gov. Corbett recently signed the legislation
• Co-sponsored HB 2525, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses in Pennsylvania, making it, at the time, one of the strongest dog protection laws in the country
• Co-sponsored and led efforts to end cruel live pigeon shoots for over a decade
• Voted to support HB2150, giving a $300 tax credit for anyone adopting a dog or cat from a shelter

“If we are going to see humane policies to protect animals from cruelty, we need elected officials who care about them,” added Amundson.  “We hope humane-minded voters will support Kane and Maher on November 6.”

Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@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.

DesJarlais Sided with Dogfighting and Cockfighting Interests and Also Tried to Stand in the Way of Enforcing the Horse Protection Act

WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2012) -- In his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Scott DesJarlais scored “zero” on the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s ratings of lawmakers, and has been active in efforts to thwart enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and passage of legislation to make it a crime to bring a child to a dogfight or a cockfight.

“Caring for God’s helpless creatures is a measure of character, and Scott DesJarlais has failed that test,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He not only voted against an effort to crack down on bringing children to dogfights, but he’s also tried to undermine efforts of the USDA to enforce laws against the criminal practice of horse soring.”

That issue was in the news in Tennessee and throughout the nation after an undercover video investigation into the handling of horses by Jackie McConnell, a former Hall of Fame trainer of Tennessee Walking Horses. McConnell pleaded guilty to violations of federal law and is now facing state anti-cruelty charges. DeJarlais wrote a letter stating he is “concerned” about USDA’s enforcement actions, and believes “they are unacceptable and create great uncertainty for the industry.”

DesJarlais scored a zero out of 100 percent on the Humane Scorecard for the 112th Congress, failing to support a single animal welfare policy and voting against every animal welfare measure that came to the House floor.

DesJarlais has:

• Voted in the House Agriculture Committee to oppose an amendment to make it a crime for an adult to bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight (AMDT.32/H.R.6083). The amendment was approved by the Agriculture Committee, and the underlying House bill has 226 cosponsors, including 78 Republicans. The Senate passed a similar amendment by a vote of 88 to 11.
• Voted to allow American trophy hunters to import the heads and hides of polar bears killed for sport in the Arctic, even though polar bears are listed as a threatened species (H.AMDT.1008/H.R. 4089).
• Voted twice to waste taxpayer dollars on subsidies to massive factory farms, which thrive on taxpayer giveaways that keep animal feed artificially cheap, jeopardize public health, the environment, and animal welfare, while also driving smaller and more humane, sustainable family farms out of business (H.AMDT.124/H.R.1) and (H.AMDT.478/H.R. 2112).
• Voted to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on the use of aerial gunning, toxic poisons, steel-jawed leghold traps and other inhumane methods of killing predators as a federal subsidy. (H.AMDT.471/H.R.2112).
• Not co-sponsored any of the bills to crack down on puppy mills, end the use of chimpanzees in invasive experiments, or reform the egg industry which is the top legislative priority for that agriculture sector.

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

King voted against including pets and service animals in disaster plans—a policy now saving lives in the regions devastated by Hurricane Sandy

WASHINGTON (Oct. 31, 2012) -- As the nation begins to recover from Hurricane Sandy, one of the most devastating storms to hit the United States, Steve King’s inconsistent and morally wrong position on disaster relief was on display last night during the final congressional debate in Mason City when he said that federal aid for people impacted by Hurricane Sandy should not be spent on "Gucci bags and massage parlors." The Humane Society Legislative Fund notes that King not only voted against flood relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but he was one of only a handful of lawmakers who voted against the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006, which now requires disaster plans to include pets and service animals.

The vote on the PETS Act came in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in the Gulf Coast, after so many people stayed behind and put themselves and first responders at risk because there were no plans to care for pets. The House passed the bill by a vote of 349 to 24, and Steve King was the only Iowa lawmaker to vote against it. It passed the Senate unanimously, with support from both Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin. President George W. Bush signed it into law (H.R. 3858/P.L. 109-308)—saying that if he could take one thing while evacuating during a disaster, he would take his dog, Barney.

Because there is now an official federal policy in place on pets in disasters, which King opposed, responding agencies are better prepared to assist families that include pets and service animals in a time of crisis. More emergency shelters allow people to bring their pets when they evacuate disaster-stricken areas, or have separate accommodations set up for temporarily housing pets. The response to Hurricane Sandy took pets and service animals into account, which made the human relief effort more effective, since people were less likely to stay behind and put themselves in danger. In the years following Katrina, including during the floods in the Midwest, residents have benefited from having a federal policy on pets and service animals in disasters.

“When floods hit the Missouri River, Steve King knew he had no choice but to support a federal response to the disaster,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “But what about all of the other people suffering in the wake of a disaster, and his series of votes to deny appropriate relief and assistance?  He also failed to recognize that caring for pets and service animals in disasters is a necessary component of any successful response, given the close bond that people have with their animals.”

About two-thirds of American households have pets. A Zogby International poll after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast found that 61 percent of pet owners will not evacuate if they cannot bring their pets with them.

Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (240) 477-2251, hsullivan@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.

Animal Welfare Group Calls on King to Release Records of His Supposed Financial Support for Local Humane Societies

WASHINGTON (Oct. 30, 2012) -- In response to a question posed by a moderator at last week’s candidate debate hosted by Iowa Public Television about the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s campaign against him, Congressman Steve King represented to his constituents that he’s a donor to local humane societies, in an apparent attempt to indicate that he does care about the well-being of animals. Given that King has taken dozens of votes on animal protection issues as a state lawmaker and then as a congressman and opposed just about every one of them, his claim struck a false note. HSLF subsequently surveyed the leaders of several local humane organizations throughout Iowa, and by all accounts, King has never been a donor or supporter to any one of these groups. HSLF is calling on King to release records of his supposed donations to local humane organizations.

“Steve King, as a state legislator and now as a congressman, has gone out of his way to oppose and even attack the most modest efforts to help animals,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Now we know that Steve King is prepared to misrepresent his philanthropic record on this subject. He hasn’t given an inch on animal welfare reforms, and he apparently hasn’t given a dime to any kind of animal welfare group – local or national.”

The Humane Society Legislative Fund has identified King as the number one opponent of animal welfare in Congress, getting scores of zero in a number of congressional sessions, with dozens of opportunities through the years to demonstrate support for legislation by voting on bills in committee or on the floor or by cosponsoring legislation.

HSLF has spent more than $500,000 on TV ads to highlight King’s efforts in Congress against animal welfare, including his efforts to block legislation to make it a crime for an adult to bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight (AMDT.32/H.R.6083). He previously opposed federal legislation to make it a felony to move animals across state lines for animal fighting (H.R. 137/P.L. 110-22), saying, “I believe that human life is diminished by our making it a felony to transport animals for fighting, without first making it a felony to take a minor girl across a state line for an abortion” (March 28, 2007).

He’s also opposed efforts to restrict the trade in chimpanzees and other primates as exotic pets (H.R. 80), to prevent sick and injured downer cows from getting into the food supply (H.AMDT.474/H.R.339), to include pets and service animals in disaster planning (H.R. 3858/P.L. 109-308), to stop the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas (H.R. 503), to stop imports of sport-hunted trophies of threatened polar bears (H.AMDT.1008/H.R. 4089), and to ratify an agreement between animal welfare groups and the egg industry to improve the housing systems for laying hens and to deal with a patchwork of varying state laws on the subject (AMDT.45/H.R.6083).

“Caring for animals is a basic test of one’s character, and if a man cannot find it within himself to help crack down on a barbaric activity like dogfighting, then he’s not serving his constituents' interests in Congress. Our nation needs people who will find common ground, not a rhetorical bomb-thrower like Steve King," added Amundson.

Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@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.