Press Release

WASHINGTON (Oct. 29, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., in the new 10th Congressional District of California. Citing his leadership on an egg industry reform bill, as well as other animal welfare reforms, the Humane Society Legislative Fund asks voters in the newly drawn 10th Congressional District of California to return him to Congress for a second term.

“Jeff Denham has helped build consensus between animal protection and egg industry organizations, and he is a co-author of the bill to increase space allotments for laying hens,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. This legislation comes in the wake of the passage of Proposition 2 in California in November 2008, which stipulated that laying hens be allowed to “stand up, lie down, turn around, and freely extend their limbs.” H.R. 3798 would extend some of the most critical Prop 2 standards to the entire nation, including the ban on barren battery cages, improving the treatment of hundreds of millions of egg-laying hens.

Additionally, Denham co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight. Denham supported similar legislation to increase penalties related to animal fighting during his tenure in the California State Legislature.

As a California State Senator, Jeff Denham:

• Voted for a bill to increase penalties for spectators at staged dogfighting exhibitions (AB 242)
• Voted for a bill to require judges to prohibit felons convicted of animal cruelty from owning animals for a period of time (AB 243)
• Voted for a bill to increase fines and possible jail time for those convicted of felony animal neglect to levels consistent with penalties for felony animal abuse (AB 2012)
• Voted for a bill that supported federal legislation to protect horses in America from slaughter for human consumption (SJR 22)
• Voted for a bill to establish minimum poaching fines/imprisonment penalties and allow for the suspension/revocation of hunting licenses and forfeiture of assets for repeat offenders (AB 708)
• Voted for a bill to allow property forfeiture of anyone found guilty of violating dogfighting laws with proceeds going to animal and law enforcement agencies (SB 318)

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.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 19, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., for re-election in the 9th Congressional District of California. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges 9th District voters to support Jerry McNerney.

“Jerry McNerney has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to reelect Jerry McNerney.”

McNerney has supported a number of federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among his efforts, McNerney has:

• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, H.R. 3798, to extend some Prop 2 standards (to ban barren battery cages) to the entire nation, improving treatment for hundreds of millions of egg-laying hens.
• Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save millions of taxpayer dollars
• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a child to a dogfight or cockfight
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses
• Co-sponsored legislation to ban commerce in videos showing the intentional torture of puppies, kittens and other live animals for the sexual titillation of viewers (H.R. 5092/P.L.111-294)
• Co-sponsored the Truth in Fur Labeling Act to require accurate labeling of all garments trimmed with animal fur so consumers are not deceived into believing the apparel is faux fur (H.R. 2480/P.L. 111-313)
• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Enforcement Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2007 and strengthened the penalties for illegal dogfighting and cockfighting, making it a felony to transport animals across state lines for these gruesome and barbaric fights  (H.R. 137/P.L. 110-22)
• Voted to protect threatened polar bears in the Arctic and prevent the import of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada (H.AMDT.1008/H.R. 4089)
• Opposed a devastating “extinction rider” that would have weakened the Endangered Species Act by preventing the listing of imperiled species and designation of critical habitat (H.AMDT.735/H.R.2584)
• Voted to save millions of taxpayer dollars by reducing the use of toxic poisons and other inhumane methods of killing predators as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers. (H.AMDT.471/H.R. 2112)
• Voted for the Captive Primate Safety Act to prohibit the interstate commerce in chimpanzees and other primates for the exotic pet trade, which poses a danger to animal welfare and to public health and safety (H.R. 80)
• Voted to fund conservation programs for imperiled crane populations in the U.S. and around the world (H.R. 388) and conservation programs that protect rare dog and cat species such as jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs (H.R. 411)
• Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the 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: Pepper Van Tassell, (240) 751-0232, pvantassell@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.

25 Sheriffs and Police Departments in Iowa’s Fourth District Support Bill to Ban Bringing Children to Dogfights, Which King Opposes

WASHINGTON (Oct. 19, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy group for animal welfare, has launched its fourth TV ad in the Des Moines, Sioux City and Rochester/Mason City media markets opposing Steve King’s reelection to Congress. The new ad includes video footage of dogfighting, and tells voters that King’s opposition to a bill that would ban bringing children to dogfights is out of step with other members of Iowa’s congressional delegation and law enforcement groups.

The narrator tells viewers: “Dogfighting, it’s cruel, vicious—so why would Steve King vote against a ban on bringing children to dogfights? Twenty-five sheriffs and police departments in the Fourth District support the ban. Democrats and Republicans, including Chuck Grassley and Tom Latham, came together to support the ban. Just not King. He’s the only Iowa lawmaker to oppose the federal ban on bringing children to dogfights. Steve King—too extreme for Iowa.”

King has led the fight in Congress to block legislation to crack down on the barbaric practices of dogfighting and cockfighting, and he has a history of opposing other efforts to crack down on animal fighting and other forms of animal cruelty. During consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill, King led an unsuccessful effort to defeat an amendment to make it a crime for an adult to attend or to bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight. Despite King’s efforts, the amendment passed by a vote of 26-19.

Other Republican members of Iowa’s congressional delegation support the legislation: Rep. Tom Latham is a co-sponsor of H.R. 2492, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which the Farm Bill amendment was based on, and Sen. Chuck Grassley voted in favor of a similar Farm Bill amendment which passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 88-11.

Additionally, 25 law enforcement agencies in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District have endorsed H.R. 2492/S. 1947, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, to crack down on violence and criminal activity. Nationwide, the bill has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and more than 280 law enforcement agencies. A three-year study by the Chicago Police Department found that 70 percent of animal offenders had also been arrested for other felonies, including domestic and aggravated battery, illegal drug trafficking, and sex crimes.

“Steve King is out of step with Iowa values, with members of his own caucus, and with men and women of law enforcement who are working to protect our communities from violence and criminal activity,” said Dane Waters, political director for the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “King stands virtually alone in opposing this anti-crime and anti-cruelty legislation, and his colleagues know that if our nation is to root out dogfighting and cockfighting, we need to have strong laws to combat it.”

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.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 19, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., for re-election in the 7th  Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges 7th District voters to support Meehan.

“Pat Meehan has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He is standing up for the values of kindness and compassion, and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Pat Meehan.”

Meehan has supported a number of federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among his efforts, Meehan has:

• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses
• Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 2966, to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of American horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy
• Co-sponsored the Interstate Horseracing Improvement Act, H.R. 1733, to prohibit the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the horseracing industry
• Voted to save millions of taxpayer dollars by reducing the use of toxic poisons, steel-jawed leghold traps, aerial gunning, and other inhumane methods of killing predators as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers (H.AMDT.471/H.R.2112)
• Opposed a devastating “extinction rider” that would have weakened the Endangered Species Act by preventing the listing of imperiled species and designation of critical habitat (H.R.2584)

Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (240) 477-2251, hsullivan@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 (Oct. 15, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Penn., for re-election in the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges 10th District voters to support Tom Marino.

“Tom Marino has been a leader in working to strengthen our nation’s laws against illegal animal fighting and other forms of cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He is standing up for the values of kindness and compassion, and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to reelect Tom Marino.”

Rep. Marino is the lead sponsor of the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, which would close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a child to a dogfight or cockfight. His bill has attracted 226 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and more than 280 law enforcement agencies across the country.

Forty-nine states, including Pennsylvania, already have penalties for animal fighting spectators. But there is a loophole in the federal animal fighting law that does not yet address this problem. Spectators are willing accomplices who finance animal fighting operations through their admission fees and gambling wagers, and provide cover to animal fighters who blend into the crowd during a law enforcement raid. Marino’s bill would give federal law enforcement agencies the tools they need to crack down on the entire cast of characters involved in animal fighting.

Additionally, Rep. Marino has also:

• Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save millions of taxpayer dollars
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses
• Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the 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 contacts:
Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org
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.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 15, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., in the 31st Congressional District of California. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges 31st District voters to support Gary Miller.

“Gary Miller has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Bob Dutton has been anything but a reliable support of animal welfare policies, and he’s tried to stand in the way of a number of important reforms, including the ban on the hound hunting of bears. We urge Democrats and Republicans who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Gary Miller in this race between two long-serving Republican elected officials.”

Among his efforts, Miller has:

• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments, H.R.3798, to extend some Prop 2 standards (to ban barren battery cages) to the entire nation, improving treatment of hundreds of  millions of egg-laying hens
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses
• Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save millions of taxpayer dollars
• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a child to a dogfight or cockfight
• Co-sponsored legislation to ban commerce in videos showing the intentional torture of puppies, kittens and other live animals for the sexual titillation of viewers (H.R. 5092//P.L. 111-294)
• Voted to save taxpayer dollars by limiting 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.478/H.R. 2112)
• Voted to establish a program at Veterans Administration medical centers for veterans with post-deployment mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder to train service dogs as a form of therapy, and the trained dogs would assist veterans with disabilities (H.R. 3885)

Bob Dutton has opposed a number of modest animal welfare reforms in the California State Legislature, including the following:

• Voted against a bill to prohibit the use of packs of radio-collared dogs to chase and kill bears and bobcats for trophy hunting (SB 1221)
• Voted against a bill to re-establish the Municipal Shelter Spay-Neuter Fund, allowing for voluntary contributions by taxpayers on their annual income tax returns. (AB 564)
• Voted against a bill that would save dogs’ lives by addressing barriers to licensing and improving local government funding for animal care/control activities. (AB 1121)
• Voted against a bill to require judges to prohibit felons convicted of animal cruelty from owning animals for a period of time. (AB 243)
• Voted against a bill to require any garment including any animal fur to be labeled with the species and country of origin. (AB 1656)
• Voted against a bill to require better, clearer price and coverage disclosures by pet insurers. (AB 2411)
• Voted against a bill to protect tenants from being forced by landlords into unnecessary surgery on their pets, particularly when the procedures provide no medical benefit to the animal. (AB 2743)
• Voted against a bill to ban the sale of animals in parking lots and alongside roads. (AB 1122)
• Voted against a bill to prohibit the painful and unnecessary practice of cutting the tails off cows. (SB 135)

Media contact: Stephanie Twining, (301) 258-1491, stwining@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 (Oct. 15, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing his strong leadership and support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges voters in Maryland to support Cardin.

“As chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, Ben Cardin is in a special place to influence policies to protect animals from cruelty and abuse and to find common-sense solutions to some of the problems animals face,” said Michael Markarian president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion, and we urge Maryland voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to reelect Ben Cardin.”

Cardin has advocated for a number of federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among his efforts, Cardin has:

• As chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, worked to advance several key pieces of animal protection and conservation legislation, including the Captive Primate Safety Act to prohibit the interstate commerce in chimpanzees and other primates for the exotic pet trade, which poses a danger to animal welfare and to public health and safety  (S.1324), the Crane Conservation Act to fund conservation programs for imperiled crane populations in the U.S. and around the world  (S. 197), and the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act to fund conservation programs that protect rare dog and cat species such as jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs (S. 529)
• Held a subcommittee hearing on  the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, S. 810, to phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save millions of taxpayer dollars
• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, S. 3239, to ban barren battery cages in the egg industry, and improve the treatment of hundreds of  millions of laying hens
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, S. 707, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses
• Co-sponsored the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act to require humane euthanasia of livestock too sick or injured to walk and to prohibit USDA certification of meat from such animals for human consumption (S. 394)
• Co-sponsored the Truth in Fur Labeling Act to require accurate labeling of all garments trimmed with animal fur so consumers are not deceived into believing the apparel is faux fur (S.1076/P.L. 111-313)
• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Enforcement Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2007 and strengthened the penalties for illegal dogfighting and cockfighting, making it a felony to transport animals across state lines for these gruesome and barbaric fights (S.261/110-22)
• Co-sponsored the Protect America's Wildlife (PAW) Act of 2009, S. 1535, to close a loophole in federal law that allows the shooting of wolves and other wildlife using airplanes and helicopters
• Supported an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a child to a dogfight or cockfight (S.Amdt. 2363/S. 3240)
• Voted to save taxpayer dollars by limiting 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 (S.Amdt. 791/H.R. 2112)
• Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the 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: Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@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 (Oct. 15, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing her strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges voters in New York to support Gillibrand.

“Kirsten Gillibrand has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “She has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion and we urge New York voters to reelect Kirsten Gillibrand.”
Gillibrand has advocated for a number of federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse.

Among her efforts, Gillibrand has:

• Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, S.810, to phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save millions of taxpayer dollars
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, S. 707, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses
• Co-sponsored the Truth in Fur Labeling Act to require accurate labeling of all garments trimmed with animal fur so consumers are not deceived into believing the apparel is faux fur (S.1076/P.L. 111-313)
• Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of American horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy (S. 1176)
• Supported an amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a child to a dogfight or cockfight (S.Amdt. 2363/S. 3240)
• Voted to save taxpayer dollars by limiting 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 (S.Amdt. 791/H.R. 2112)
• Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the 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: Pepper Van Tassell, (301) 258-1417, pvantassell@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 (Oct. 12, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Bob Dold, R-Illinois, for re-election in the 10th Congressional District of Illinois. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges 10th District voters to support Dold.

“Bob Dold has one of the strongest records in Congress of protecting animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He is fighting for the values of kindness and compassion, and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to reelect Bob Dold.”

Dold has been a strong supporter of animal protection. Among his efforts, he has:

• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a minor to an organized dogfight or cockfight
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the U.S., where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter, without exercise, veterinary care, socialization or human companionship
• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments, H.R. 3798, to ban barren battery cages in the egg industry and improve the treatment of hundreds of millions of laying hens
• Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 2966, to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of American horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy
• Voted to save millions of taxpayer dollars by reducing the use of aerial gunning, toxic poisons, steel-jawed leghold traps, and other inhumane methods of killing predators as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers (H.AMDT.471/H.R. 2112)
• Voted to cap agriculture subsidies and limit huge taxpayer giveaways to massive factory farms which 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)
• Opposed a devastating “extinction rider” that would have weakened the Endangered Species Act by preventing the listing of imperiled species and designation of critical habitat (H.AMDT.735/H.R.2584)
• Voted to protect threatened polar bears in the Arctic and stop the import of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada (H.AMDT.1008/H.R. 4089)
• Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture positions through student loan forgiveness

Media contact: Pepper Van Tassell, (240) 751-0232, pvantassell@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.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-N.Y., for re-election in the 18th Congressional District of New York. Citing her strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges 18th District voters to support Hayworth.

“Nan Hayworth has one of the strongest records in Congress of protecting animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “She is fighting for the values of kindness and compassion, and we urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to re-elect Nan Hayworth.”

Hayworth has been a strong supporter of animal protection. Among her efforts, she has:

• Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law by making it a crime to attend or take a minor to an organized dogfight or cockfight
• Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the U.S., where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter, without exercise, veterinary care, socialization or human companionship
• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments, H.R. 3798, to ban barren battery cages in the egg industry and improve the treatment of hundreds of millions of laying hens
• Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 2966, to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of American horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy
• Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire the approximately 500 federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save tens of millions of tax dollars from warehousing chimps in federally-funded laboratories
• Urged the Food and Drug Administration to phase out the routine non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals – a common practice to promote growth and compensate for overcrowded, stressful, unsanitary conditions on factory farms – in order to maintain the effectiveness of antibiotics for treating sick people and animals (March 27, 2012)
• Voted to save millions of taxpayer dollars by reducing the use of aerial gunning, toxic poisons, steel-jawed leghold traps and other inhumane methods of killing predators as a subsidy for private livestock ranchers (H.AMDT.471/H.R.2112)
• Voted to cap agriculture subsidies and limit huge taxpayer giveaways to massive factory farms which 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)
• Opposed a devastating “extinction rider” that would have weakened the Endangered Species Act by preventing the listing of imperiled species and designation of critical habitat (H.AMDT.735/H.R.2584)
• Supported efforts to provide adequate funding for the 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: Raúl Arce-Contreras, (301) 721-6440, hslfrcontreras@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.