Humane USA News

News

News Letter

Current Articles

2007 Wins for the Animals

2006 Animal Friendly Candidates Prevail

Political Animals

Best Friends Article

Scully The American Conservative

Asking IRS to revoke Cock Fighters Tax Exemption

Downer Cows

Animal Groups Praise Senator Rick Santorum

Canned Pheasant Hunts Aren't Sporting

Wayne Pacelle

Wayne Pacelle Interview by Satya

Press Releases

Humane Society of the United States

Humane USA in the News

Egg-Citing Victory

 

Humane USA News Archives

2007 ISSUES:

Just a few months ago, the leadership of the U.S. Congress changed hands—and these shifts in power don’t come along all that often and they represent a clamoring for real change. But 2006 will also be known as the year that the animal protection movement achieved a new level of political traction and influence. With your support, Humane USA scored resounding victories for animals at every level.

We helped to defeat several members of Congress and a governor who had plainly miserable records on animal protection. Your support allowed us to elect new humane leaders to Congress, and send some enemies of animal welfare back to the private sector. And we helped to win landslide victories for animals on statewide ballot measures where we faced vigorous opposition campaigns from the agribusiness and hunting lobbies.

But there is so much more work to do, and we have to take advantage of this momentum for animals. Will you please support Humane USA today with a generous donation?

Here are some results from 2006, which Humane USA helped to achieve with your support:

• In California’s 11th District, Rep. Richard Pombo was named the “leading opponent of animal welfare in Congress” by Humane USA, and was our top target for defeat. Pombo, the powerful chairman of the House Resources Committee, had wreaked havoc on nearly every animal welfare bill in his fourteen years in office. He had traveled internationally to support the resumption of commercial whaling in Japan, and he has defended horse slaughter, trapping in national wildlife refuges, bear baiting on federal lands, and countless cruel practices. Humane USA backed animal welfare advocate Jerry McNerney, who defeated Pombo by a few thousand votes.  Never before has a chairman of the Resources Committee been defeated for re-election, and there can be no doubt that his hostility to animal protection was a large part of his political undoing.

• The leading anti-animal lawmaker in the Senate was also sent packing by voters. As chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Conrad Burns of Montana did much damage to animal protection – whether defending steel-jawed leghold traps or quietly rolling back protections for wild horses and facilitating the slaughter of American horses for export.  Burns lost a squeaker to Jon Tester, an organic farmer, by a margin of about 3,000 votes. With Burns out of the way, the prospects for the passage of the anti-slaughter legislation for horses dramatically improve.

• Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich had changed the state’s landscape for animals, for the worse, in his four years in the top job. Due to his allegiance to the NRA and other trophy hunting groups, he repealed the state’s 51-year ban on trophy hunting of black bears, repealed the state’s 280-year ban on Sunday hunting, and repealed the state’s centuries-long ban on crossbow hunting. Before he was governor, he voted in Congress to give subsidize the trophy hunting of African elephants and give millions of dollars to the luxury coat industry, and he opposed legislation to protect dolphins from drowning in tuna fishing nets. Martin O’Malley, a supporter of animal welfare, defeated Ehrlich by a vote of 53% to 47%.

• In Missouri, Sen. Jim Talent had consistently done poorly on animal issues. He voted to allow the slaughter of American horses so the French can eat horse meat as a delicacy, and has refused to support the most modest animal welfare reforms. Humane USA supported Claire McCaskill, who won by just 45,000 votes out of more than two million cast. McCaskill is a strong animal welfare advocate, who has gone after the state’s notorious “puppy mills” and has pledged her support for other humane issues.

• In North Carolina’s 11th District, Rep. Charles Taylor had voted against nearly every animal welfare bill, including one to ban pornographic “crush” videos. Humane USA supported ex-football player Heath Shuler, who defeated Taylor by just 17,000 votes.

• Humane USA contributed to animal-friendly candidates who won open seats and have become new members of Congress, including Sen. Ben Cardin, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Rep. Phil Hare, Rep. Nick Lampson, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, Rep. Zack Space, Rep. Peter Welch, and Rep. Charlie Wilson. 

• We helped re-elect strong animal protection lawmakers such as Rep. Chris Shays, who was the sponsor of three animal protection bills in 2006 -- to provide disaster planning for pets, halt “canned hunts” of exotic animals, and stop the worst abuses in factory farming; Rep. Jim Gerlach, who sponsored a bill to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” where dogs are treated like production machines; Rep. Mike Ferguson, who led an effort to require labeling of fur-trimmed garments and stop dog fur from entering this country; Sen. Maria Cantwell, who is leading the charge to stop dogfighting and cockfighting; Sen. Robert Byrd, an advocate for farm animal welfare and for funding the enforcement of animal welfare laws; and many others.  These leaders are still fighting for animals in Congress thanks to Humane USA.

• Our state-level giving was meaningful as well.  For example, a candidate we supported in the New Jersey Assembly, Michael Panter, won by just 65 votes!  He is the leading animal advocate in the New Jersey state legislature, and he would not be there but for Humane USA’s support.

• In addition to working on candidate races, Humane USA also helped to win two landslide victories in statewide ballot measures. Michigan voters crushed Proposal 3, a measure that would have allowed mourning dove hunting. Doves have been protected in Michigan since 1905, although groups such as the NRA have worked for years to reverse the state’s longstanding tradition of protecting these gentle, backyard songbirds. We went head-to-head against the NRA, and the dove hunting season went down in flames by a vote of 69% to 31%.

• Arizona voters approved Proposition 204 in a lopsided vote, giving the measure about 62% approval with only 38% opposing. The measure bans the intensive confinement of breeding pigs and veal calves in tiny crates on corporate factory farms, where the animals cannot turn around or stretch their limbs. It will provide more humane treatment for 16,000 breeding pigs in the state and will stop the spread of corporate factory farms in Arizona.

Animal protection is a cause Americans care deeply about, and no longer will that subject be relegated to the sidelines.  Humane USA is making it a central issue in key races, and that issue is changing the outcomes of races.

Humane USA is the only major Political Action Committee in the animal protection movement.  With your support, we were able to give substantial contributions to candidates who support animal protection.  Our bipartisan approach, and our evaluation of candidates based on issues rather than party affiliation, has made the humane movement a serious player in Washington.

With the new makeup of the 110th Congress, animal issues are already advancing in 2007.  In just the first couple months of Congress’s work, our bill to strengthen penalties for dogfighting and cockfighting already has 304 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, and has passed the House Judiciary Committee. 

Other animal protection bills have already been introduced in 2007 to:

• Stop the slaughter of American horses for food exports;
• Require labeling of fur-trimmed garments and stop the sale of dog fur;
• Restore protections for wild horses and burros;
• Prohibit “Class B” dealers from trafficking in stolen pets for animal research; and
• Stop the sale of “downer” livestock who are too sick or injured to walk. 

Humane USA needs your help in order to reach out to lawmakers and urge them to pass these important policies for animals.  And that’s not all.  We are expecting introduction very soon of additional animal protection bills to:

• Stop the trade in captive primates for the exotic pet industry;
• Promote the development of alternatives to animal testing;
• Crack down on abusive “puppy mills” and puppy imports;
• Halt the killing of buffalo in Yellowstone National Park and stop the imports of sport-hunted polar bear trophies into the U.S.;
• Protect billions of chickens and other poultry under humane slaughter laws;
• Stop government purchases of the most inhumane factory farm products.

Humane USA needs to gain greater strength and influence.  We had a big impact in November 2006.  But we want to have an even bigger impact in November 2008 and beyond.

We want all political candidates to know that animal protection is a major concern of Americans, and that it makes good political sense to advocate for the humane treatment of animals.  We will only succeed with your active participation and your financial support.

Please donate to Humane USA today.  Please give $15, $25, $35, $50, $100, or more to support the vital political work for animals.  We need your help to achieve success in the political domain.

Thank you so much for caring about animals, and for your support of Humane USA.

Sincerely,

Michael Markarian
Chairman

P.S. – Please give generously to Humane USA so we can make a difference for animals not just on Election Day, but all year long.  Thank you!

HUMANE CANDIDATES PREVAIL IN 2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS!

Hundreds of pro-animal candidates, endorsed by Humane USA, were victorious at the federal and state levels in the historic 2006 elections. And many enemies of animal welfare, such as U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo, U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, and Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich, were defeated. Click here to see a full list of Humane USA-backed candidates and how they fared on Election Day.

2006 HUMANE SCORECARD NOW AVAILABLE

The Humane Society Legislative Fund has released its 2006 Humane Scorecard, evaluating members of Congress on animal welfare issues in the 109th Congress. Click here to see how your elected officials performed on animal issues. [www.humanescorecard.org]

USDA bureaucrats and horse slaughter

The Washington Times www.washingtontimes.com

Published January 13, 2006

Last year, Congress voted overwhelmingly to include an amendment in the agriculture appropriations bill that would, in the words of Sen. John Ensign, "end the slaughter of America's horses for human consumption overseas." Mr. Ensign was a co-sponsor of the bill, as was Sen. Robert Byrd, who said the amendment would "stop the slaughter of horses for human consumption." In the House, amendment co-sponsor Rep. John Spratt said, "This amendment in simple terms will stop the slaughter for human consumption of horses."

     So, we learn with surprise that this amendment apparently "does not prevent horse slaughter at all," according to Department of Agriculture General Counsel James Michael Kelly. All it does, Mr. Kelly wrote in a letter to Congress, is prohibit "expenditure of funds provided under the 2006 [appropriations] Act to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel to inspect the horses." In other words, the only purpose of the amendment is to cut a little grist from the federal budget.

     Mr. Kelly's assertion is ridiculous. Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act horses bound for human consumption must be inspected by USDA employees both prior to and after slaughter. The amendment, which President Bush signed into law in November, bans horse slaughter by prohibiting the funds used for the inspections. As the record clearly states, this was Congress' intent. In the words of the Humane Society of the United States, any other explanation "would render the entire Amendment meaningless" and forces one to accept the "absurd premise that all of the time, effort, and energy spent debating and enacting this Amendment was for the sole purpose of changing the way [USDA] pays for horse inspection prior to slaughter."

     Nonetheless, USDA is considering a petition from the three foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the country to disregard the explicit will of Congress. The two Belgian plants and one French-owned plant are offering to pay the inspectors themselves under a fee-for-service system used for "certain exotic animals," like elk, reindeer, rabbits, and now, we suppose, horses. Moreover, they want to do this without having to go through the messy public notice and comment period otherwise common for such requests. Astoundingly, the USDA seems prepared to let them do this.

     So, we'll set up our own public notice and comment period. Readers who might not like the idea of a U.S. agency ignoring a law of Congress to placate a few foreign horse slaughterers should voice their concerns to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. Send an e-mail to Mr. Johanns at mike.johanns@usda.gov or call his office at 202-720-3631.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060112-090215-9260r.htm

Political Animals #12

Victory for Horses in Congress!

In late September, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly-by a vote of 69-28-to stop the use of tax dollars to slaughter American horses for food exports. The successful amendment to the agriculture spending bill, led by Sens. John Ensign (R-NV) and Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), followed on the heels of an identical amendment sponsored by Reps. John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt (D-SC), Nick Rahall (D-WV), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and approved by the House of Representatives in June by a vote of 269-158.

Last week, however, when the agriculture appropriations bill went to a final conference committee, some lawmakers worked behind closed doors to remove the horse slaughter language, seeking to undo the overwhelming public votes from both chambers and substitute their own judgment for the judgment of the American people and their elected representatives. Luckily, animal advocates around the country called on lawmakers to keep the horse slaughter ban intact, and the language remained in the final bill with only a four month delay before it goes into effect.

This successful amendment will shut down the three horse slaughter plants in the U.S.-two in Texas and one in Illinois-and will stop horses from going over the border for slaughter, sparing nearly 100,000 American horses from a grim and painful end just to satisfy the demand for horsemeat in France, Belgium, and other countries. Humane USA 's support for key House and Senate lawmakers helped carry the day for the horses, and we thank you for helping us secure this victory. And Humane USA's bipartisan strategy is paying dividends: the Senate amendment to ban horse slaughter was supported by 35 Republicans, 33 Democrats, and one Independent, showing such depth of support for animal welfare.

Because the amendment was included in a spending bill, the ban on horse slaughter will expire after one fiscal year. Please help us continue this momentum and pass legislation to ban horse slaughter permanently, H.R. 503 and S. 1915. Click here to contact your legislators .

Vote Humane in the Garden State

New Jersey is one of only two states (along with Virginia ) holding an election for Governor next week. All 80 seats in New Jersey 's state Assembly are also up for consideration. When New Jersey voters go to the polls next week, Humane USA asks them to elect candidates who have shown their support for animal protection.

In the gubernatorial race, Humane USA has endorsed Sen. Jon Corzine (D) as the best candidate for animals. In his term in the U.S. Senate, Corzine has supported efforts to ban the slaughter of horses, strengthen penalties for illegal animal fighting, increase funding for enforcement of animal welfare laws, stop the sale of "downed" animals who are too sick or injured to walk to slaughter, and crack down on canned hunts of exotic animals trapped behind fences. He recently spoke in opposition to the trophy hunting of bears in New Jersey , while his opponent, Doug Forrester (R), supports bear hunting.

Humane USA urges all New Jersey voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to elect Jon Corzine as Governor. Click here to read more about Jon Corzine's record on animal welfare issues . Humane USA has also endorsed 40 candidates for New Jersey 's state Assembly. Click here to see a full list of New Jersey endorsements .

Help Support Humane USA

The only way to pass humane laws is to elect humane lawmakers, and our work in elections across the country is paying off. We plan on achieving more wins for the animals this year, but we need your help. Please support our work by donating online today.

Thank you for helping animals, and for your support.

Humane USA 's Work Paying Off in Congress

In only the first half of the 109 th Congress, the animals are winning lopsided votes in favor of their protection like never before. This momentum is due, in very large part, to Humane USA's work to support and elect candidates who fight for animal welfare, and to punish lawmakers who are hostile to animals. Animal protection champions in both the House and the Senate are leading the way for meaningful reforms, and anti-animal legislators (such as former Reps. Chris John and Charlie Stenholm) are watching the action on C-SPAN because Humane USA drummed them out of office. The last few months have yielded major victories for animals, including the following wins.

Ridding America of Animal Fighting : At the end of April, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved S. 382, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act , which strengthens the federal penalties to crack down on cruel and illegal dogfighting , cockfighting, and hog-dog fights. Many Senators recognized the impact that animal fighting had in defeating pro-cockfighting candidate Chris John in last year's Louisiana Senate race, thanks to Humane USA's work to educate voters in that state and to swing the balance in favor of now- Sen . David Vitter (R-LA).

The animal fighting bill was introduced by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) with eleven original co-sponsors, including Sen. Vitter. Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Republican Conference Chair Rick Santorum (R-PA) played key roles in winning Senate passage. Sen. Ensign said, "As a veterinarian, I believe passage of this bill is a vital step in ending one of the most barbaric practices concerning animals that exists today." An identical bill in the House, H.R. 817, sponsored by Rep. Mark Green (R-WI) and 121 co-sponsors, is awaiting passage. Click here to contact your Representative in support of the bill.

Restoring Federal Protections for Wild Horses and Burros : In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rahall-Whitfield amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill in a landslide vote of 249-159 to restore the 34-year-old ban on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros. Stealth legislation introduced by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) last December gutted federal protections of wild horses and passed with no hearing or debate as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill in the closing days of the last Congressional session. The Burns amendment reversed longstanding federal policy that banned wild horses from being sold at auction and subsequently shipped to slaughter plants. Since its passage, 41 wild horses were sold at auction by the Bureau of Land Management and immediately sent to slaughter by the purchasers.

The new pro-horse amendment, sponsored by Reps. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY), reverses the Burns rider and restores federal protections for wild horses and burros. The successful Rahall-Whitfield amendment closely mirrors their free-standing Wild Horse Act, H.R. 297, as well as a companion bill pending in the Senate, S. 576, introduced by Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV). Click here to take action.

Ending All Slaughter of American Horses for Foreign Food : In early June, in another landslide vote to protect horses, the U.S. House of Representatives added domestic horses to the debate by voting 269-158 during consideration of the Agriculture Appropriations bill to halt the taxpayer support of the slaughter of nearly 90,000 companion horses, thoroughbreds, show horses, family ponies, and other horses each year for foreign consumption.  The successful amendment by Reps. John Sweeney (R-NY) and John Spratt (D-SC), will defund inspections of horses at the three U.S. horse slaughterhouses and border inspections of slaughter-bound horses. The amendment eliminates the practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption, whether domestic or wild.

"Since our nation was founded, we as a country have shared a special relationship with the horse," said Rep. Sweeney. "It is unconscionable that for decades, we have been using federal taxpayer dollars to support a practice that the American public is overwhelmingly opposed to. I'm pleased to see that my colleagues agree that this horrid inhumane treatment must end." Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has pledged to introduce a bill in the Senate to outlaw the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Click here to take action.

More Priorities Ahead : Animal fighting and horse slaughter bills are moving, but we have other key priorities for the 109 th Congress.

• Sens . Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Sam Farr (D-CA) have introduced the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS) , S. 1139 and H.R. 2669, to provide more humane standards of care at mass-breeding "puppy mills."
• Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rob Simmons (R-CT) are pushing H.R. 1329, the Captive Primate Safety Act , to ban the inhumane and dangerous interstate pet trade in apes and monkeys. A Senate bill is expected soon.
• Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) has introduced H.R. 1558, the Computer-Assisted Remote Hunting Act , to ban the pay-per-view slaughter of captive animals over the Internet.
• Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT) have authored the Sportsmanship in Hunting Act , S. 304 and H.R. 1688, to ban the shooting of captive, exotic animals trapped behind fences at "canned hunts."
• And we expect bills to be introduced to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals, such as amending the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act to include poultry , and codifying the ban on slaughtering "downed" animals who are too sick or injured to walk.

Help Us Achieve Even More Victories in Congress!

None of these animal protection victories would be possible without your support of Humane USA. The only way to pass humane laws is to elect humane lawmakers, and our work in elections across the country is paying off. We plan on achieving more wins for the animals this year, but we need your help. Please support our work by donating online today.

Thank you for helping animals, and for your support.

Humane USA PAC
P.O. Box 19224
Washington, D.C. 20036
Email: humaneusa@humaneusa.org

About Humane USA   | Federal Issues   | State Issues   | FAQ  | SiteMap | Donate