Formed in late 1999, Humane USA is the nation's first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing humane-minded candidates to public office at the federal and state levels.
Humane USA has been formed by leaders of major animal protection organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, The Fund for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, ASPCA, Doris Day Animal League, Animal Welfare Institute, The Ark Trust, Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, and others. Its board or directors, advisory board, and advisors are top grassroots and national animal protection leaders.
Strong animal protection laws are produced by humane-minded elected officials, and the best way to secure a large crop of humane-minded legislators is to support them during their election campaigns.
Because of their charitable status with the Internal Revenue Service, other animal protection groups - such as The HSUS and Farm Sanctuary - are legally barred from endorsing candidates. Humane USA is the only national animal protection group that is allowed to participate in candidate election campaigns.
During 1999 and 2000 - after Humane USA launched its operations - the Congress passed 10 new laws to protect animals, including laws to protect great apes, to establish chimpanzee sanctuaries, to ban the sale of dog and cat fur, to validate non-animal tests, and to halt barbaric practices such as "animal crush" videos and shark finning. It was no accident that Congress passed so many laws after Humane USA began its work. A solid investment in candidates yields tangible benefits for animals.
Humane USA endorsed 238 candidates during the November 2000 elections. Humane USA-endorsed candidates prevailed in 228 races - for a winning percentage exceeding 92 percent.
Humane USA will be involved in hundreds of races at the state and federal level during the primary and general elections. We can only succeed if animal advocates participate with the work of Humane USA. We urge you to join Humane USA, to follow its voting recommendations, to volunteer for endorsed candidates, and to be involved in the political process.
Legislation is now pending before Congress to combat puppy mills, ban canned hunts and steel-jawed leghold traps, crack down on cockfighting, challenge forced molting of egg-laying hens, halt bear baiting, and enact other enormously important reforms. Humane USA can be the decisive factor in pushing these bills and amendments toward passage.
Please join Humane USA and participate in the effort to elect candidates to office, who in turn will help to enact laws to shield animals from neglect, abuse, and exploitation.
(Humane USA is an all-volunteer organization, with all donations going to support humane-minded candidates. Donations to Humane USA are not tax deductible.)
