Press Release

New Renacci TV Ad Talks about Puppies, but Not His Record on Animal Issues

WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2012) -- In a new TV ad called “The Difference” by the Jim Renacci for Congress campaign, Renacci begins, “If you watch TV much, you probably think Betty Sutton and I both hate puppies and grandmothers too.” In response to the ad, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, points out that Rep. Jim Renacci has one of the worst records on animal protection issues in the entire Congress.

“We don’t know about grandmothers, but when it comes to puppies and other animals, the records of Jim Renacci and Betty Sutton could not be any more different,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Betty Sutton has been a leader in fighting against animal cruelty and abuse, and Jim Renacci has either stood on the sidelines or opposed modest animal welfare reforms.”

Renacci 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. Renacci has:

• 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.R. 4089, Peters Amendment)
• 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.R. 1, Blumenauer Amendment and H.R. 2112, Flake Amendment)
• 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 subsidy for private livestock ranchers (H.R. 2112, Campbell Amendment)
• Voted for 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, Dicks Amendment)
• Not co-sponsored any of the bills to crack down on puppy mills, dogfighting, or other abuses

In contrast, Sutton scored a 100+ (the highest possible rating) on the Humane Scorecard, and has been a leading champion for animal protection in Congress, helping to enact a number of new federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among her efforts, Sutton has:

• 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 Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, 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 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
• 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)
• Sponsored legislation that was incorporated into the 2008 Farm Bill, strengthening the federal law against dogfighting and cockfighting by increasing the felony-level penalties and banning the possession and training of fighting animals
• Supported efforts in Ohio to crack down on the private ownership of dangerous wild animals as pets
• Co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 2966, to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy
• As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, co-sponsored and helped to pass 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)

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. 12, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., for re-election in the 7th  Congressional District of Colorado. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Colorado voters to support Perlmutter.

“Ed Perlmutter has shown a strong commitment to supporting the human animal bond and preventing animal cruelty,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We urge voters in the 7th District who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Ed Perlmutter.”

Perlmutter has supported a number of federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. Among his efforts, Perlmutter 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
• Voted to protect threatened polar bears in the Arctic and prevent the import of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada (H.R. 4089, Peters Amendment)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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 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)

Media contacts: 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. 10, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing his support of some important animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges voters in Florida to support Nelson over Rep. Connie Mack.
 
“Bill Nelson has shown a commitment to preventing animal cruelty and protecting Florida’s natural habitat from invasive species,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Rep. Connie Mack has either stood on the sidelines or opposed modest animal welfare reforms. We urge Florida voters to support Bill Nelson for Senate.”

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

• Sponsored legislation and led efforts to prohibit the importation and interstate commerce in Burmese pythons and other large constrictor snakes for the pet trade  (S. 373). The Obama Administration finalized a rule to ban the trade in four of the nine species identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as posing the greatest risk to natural resources.  
• 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 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/P.L. 110-22)
• 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 contacts: 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. 10, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing his effective leadership and strong advocacy on animal protection policies throughout his tenure in the U.S. Senate, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges voters in New Jersey to support Menendez.

“Robert Menendez has an outstanding record of leadership on animal protection throughout his career in public service,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He is a leader on animal protection issues and he is standing up for the values of kindness and compassion. New Jersey voters who support the humane treatment of animals should support Robert Menendez.”

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

• Led efforts with the U.S. Department of Transportation to create more comprehensive reporting of incidents of harm or death to animals transported by airlines, enabling consumers to make informed decisions about air transport for their pets
• Sponsored the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, which was signed into law in 2010, and requires 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 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 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 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 Captive Primate Safety Act, S. 462, 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
• 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 contacts: 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. 9, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing her strong leadership and support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Michigan voters to support Stabenow.

“As chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Debbie Stabenow 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. “We are grateful for her support of measures to crack down on animal fighting and also to improve the treatment of laying hens on industrial-style egg farms.”

Among her efforts, Senator Stabenow has:

• Co-sponsored and held a committee hearing on the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, S.3239, which would improve the treatment of millions of egg-laying hens and provide a secure and stable future for U.S. egg farmers
• Supported and led an effort to include a provision in 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)
• 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)
• 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: Pepper Van Tassell, (240) 751-0232, 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. 9, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., for re-election to U.S. Senate. Citing her strong leadership and support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Washington voters to support Maria Cantwell.

“Maria Cantwell has one of the strongest records of leadership in the U.S. Senate on animal protection issues, and is fighting to protect pets, farm animals, and wildlife from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Animal protection advocates depend on the extraordinary leadership of Senator Cantwell, and voters in Washington who care about these issues should support her re-election to the U.S. Senate.”

Among her many efforts, Cantwell has:

• Sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, S. 1947, and led an effort to include a provision in 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)
• 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 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
• 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)
• Co-sponsored the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act, S. 394, to require humane euthanasia of livestock too sick or injured to walk and to prohibit U.S. Department of Agriculture certification of meat from such animals for human consumption
• 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 Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act, S. 619, 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
• 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 contacts: Stephanie Twining, (301) 258-1491, stwining@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. 9, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., for re-election in the 6th Congressional District of Massachusetts. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Massachusetts voters to support John Tierney.
 
“John Tierney has been a leader and a committed supporter of commonsense animal protection policies and has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We urge voters in the 6th District who care about the humane treatment of animals to support John Tierney.”

Among his many efforts, Tierney has:

• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, 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 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)
• 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 (H.R. 661)
• 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)
• 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 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.124/H.R.1)
• 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 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 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)
• 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

###

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. 8, 2012) --The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., for U.S. Senate in Nevada. Citing her strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Nevada voters to support Shelley Berkley.

“Shelley Berkley has been a committed supporter of commonsense animal protection policies and has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We urge Nevada voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to support Shelley Berkley for Senate.”

Among her many efforts, Berkley has:

• 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 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 Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act to require humane euthanasia of livestock too sick or injured to walk and to prohibit U.S. Department of Agriculture certification of meat from such animals for human consumption (H.R. 661)
• 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)
• 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 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.124/H.R.1) and (H.AMDT.478/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)
• Opposed an amendment to bar the Environmental Protection Agency from collecting greenhouse gas emissions data from the largest factory farms (H.R. 2996/P.L. 111-88)
• Voted to restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild and free-roaming horses and burros, and replace the current system of roundups and warehousing in holding facilities with more humane, effective, and fiscally responsible management practices, such as adoptions, sanctuaries, and fertility control (H.R. 1018)
• 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 contacts: Pepper Van Tassell, (240) 751-0232, 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. 4, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., for Connecticut’s open U.S. Senate seat. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Connecticut voters to support Murphy.

“During his three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Chris Murphy has shown a strong commitment to supporting the human-animal bond and preventing animal cruelty,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion and we urge Connecticut voters to support Chris Murphy.”

Murphy has supported a number of federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse, including:

• Co-sponsored the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, H.R. 3798, to ban barren battery cages, creating a national animal welfare standard for 280 million 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)
• 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 (H.R. 661)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Voted to remove 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 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.124/H.R.1) and (H.AMDT.478/H.R. 2112)
• Voted for 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 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 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)
• 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

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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. 2, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Citing his strong support of animal protection policies in the Senate, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Massachusetts voters to support Brown.

“Scott Brown has demonstrated strong and effective leadership on animal protection policy issues, and is working to protect pets, farm animals, and wildlife from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Voters in Massachusetts who care about the humane treatment of animals should support Scott Brown’s re-election to the U.S. Senate.”

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

• A lead sponsor of S. 1947, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which would close a loophole in the federal animal fighting law and make it a crime for an adult to attend or take a child to a dogfight or cockfight. He helped to lead an amendment to the Farm Bill on this issue which passed the Senate by a vote of 88-11.
• The author of the Marine Mammal Protection Amendment Act, S. 1402, to increase fines from $20,000 to $50,000 for knowingly violating prohibitions against the taking or importation of marine mammals. Brown introduced the bill in response to the illegal killing of grey seals on Cape Cod beaches.
• An original co-sponsor of S. 3239, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments, to ban the use of barren battery cages in the egg industry and improve the treatment of hundreds of millions of egg-laying hens.
• A co-sponsor of S. 707, the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, which cracks down on abusive large-scale commercial puppy mills selling dogs over the Internet with no oversight.
• An original co-cosponsor of S. 1176, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which bans the slaughter of horses, including the export of live horses for slaughter in other countries, for human consumption.
• A supporter of an amendment 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.
• The author of a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging the agency to expedite a proposed rule that would regulate large-scale commercial dog breeders selling puppies over the Internet.

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.