Dear Friends:
Knowing of your interest in the fight for the humane treatment of animals, I wanted to update you on the long-time advocacy of gubernatorial candidate David Bonior on this issue. Please also take a moment to review the attachment “David Bonior’s Advocacy on Behalf of Animals.” I hope that this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.
In Congress, David has been a leader in the humane treatment of animals, receiving a 100% rating from the Humane Society. As Governor of Michigan, he will continue his efforts to prevent the misuse and abuse of animals.
Whether it be protecting the natural environment and habitats; defending endangered species; cracking down on inhumane operations such as puppy mills; or ensuring the well being of our pets; David Bonior is on the front lines of this fight.
When the Gingrich Congress tried to repeal parts of the Endangered Species Act in 1995, Democratic Whip David Bonior rallied members together to stop them.
Bonior strongly supports legislation to crack down on puppy mills. He feels that dog breeding operations that inhumanely mass-produce puppies need to be held accountable for their mistreatment of these animals.
David Bonior believes that animal shelters, humane societies, and rescue missions are vital to protecting our animals. He supports efforts to create a specialty license plate that will increase funding to help in the fight against overpopulation and animal cruelty.
David believes we need animal protections in place that recognize the important balance animals and pets provide in making our world a better place to live for all of us.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Bonior for Governor Campaign
David Bonior’s Advocacy on Behalf of Animals
David Bonior has a 100% rating from the Humane Society of the United States.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
As someone who has been profoundly touched by visiting the Refuge, Congressman Bonior strongly supports protecting this region from oil drilling and exploration. The very area which some are misguidedly proposing to open up for drilling is the biological heart of the Refuge, which serves as critical breeding or migratory habitat for over 200 species of animals — including the Porcupine caribou heard, polar bears, musk oxen and more than 180 bird species. Congressman Bonior led the whip effort against drilling in the Refuge and will continue to do all he can to protect this sacred area.
Endangered Species Act
The original Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted nearly 30 years ago. This landmark legislation has focused our attention on the spiraling rate of extinction, and prompted our nation to make real progress in conserving vanishing species like the bald eagle and the grizzly bear. Congressman Bonior is committed to ensuring that the commonsense guidelines in the original act are protected, enforced and strengthened. That is why he has supported legislation to ensure the recovery of our nation’s declining biodiversity and reaffirm our nation’s commitment to protecting wildlife. Congressman Bonior has also fought against attempts to weaken the ESA — such as measures allowing takings advocates to burden our judicial system with lawsuits and allowing state and foreign governments to undermine the ESA.
Protecting Wild Salmon
When Michigan’s salmon population dwindled to next to nothing, our lakes and streams were restocked with salmon from the Pacific Northwest. Today, dams along the lower Snake River are a serious threat to the region’s native salmon population. In order to protect wild salmon, Congressman Bonior is an original cosponsor of the Salmon Planning Act which will bring stakeholders together and will allow for the consideration of dam removal. There are no longer Graylings in Michigan — loggers removed so many trees at the turn of the century that our lakes and rivers became too warm for the fish to survive. The day should never come when there are no salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves have been continuously protected in Michigan since 1906 — and Congressman Bonior believes they should remain protected. These are small birds with little meat on them and hunting them would serve no wildlife management purpose. Michigan is blessed with abundant birds and waterfowl, and should remain so.
Polar Bear Protection
David Bonior believes that polar bears belong in their natural Arctic environment — not in traveling circuses where they are whipped, poorly fed and kept in hot conditions. That is why he is an original sponsor of the Polar Bear Protection Act, which would fine or imprison anyone found keeping polar bears in captive conditions which violate the basic requirements of animal cruelty laws. This legislation is necessary to prevent circuses such as the Suarez Bros. Circus, which operates in Puerto Rico, from keeping polar bears in inhumane conditions.
Stellar Sea Lions
In the 106th Congress, David Bonior worked to stop a back-door appropriations rider that would have blocked the implementation of any new sea lion conservation measures, allowed for the fishing industry to implement their own regulations, and removed the Secretary of Commerce’s ability to modify or reject those regulations.
Combined Animal Feeding Operations
Congressman Bonior led the whip effort and spoke on the floor of the House in support of an amendment to the farm bill that would have restricted taxpayer subsidies for large factory farms. In July, Congressman Bonior asked the Environmental Protection Agency to bring the State of Michigan into compliance with the Clean Water Act in its regulation of large-scale animal facilities. The State of Michigan has essentially ignored the discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Unchecked CAFO discharges make their way into our drinking water supply and are many times more toxic than raw, untreated sewage — and they should not be permitted.
South Fox Island
South Fox Island is one of the most beautiful and untouched ecosystems in the entire Great Lakes region. It provides critical habitat for the endangered piping plover, the threatened pitcher’s thistle, as well as bald eagles and peregrine falcons. It is also home to some of the most undeveloped sand dunes in our state. A threat to this fragile ecosystem has been presented by a proposed land swap between the State of Michigan and a private developer. Congressman Bonior fought to require Congressional approval before any transfer of land could go forward and will continue to fight against land swaps which threaten critical habitat.
Bear Protection
The greatest threat to the bear population comes from international trade in bear parts and products. Bear paws are an expensive culinary delicacy in Asian restaurants, and bear gallbladders and bile are used for medicinal use by traditional Asian cultures. In 1984, China began farming bear for their bile. In the U.S., bear carcasses have been found with only their gall bladders and paws missing. That’s why Congressman Bonior supports legislation to prohibit the import or export or interstate commerce of bear gallbladder and bile. It is also among the reasons why Congressman Bonior fought so hard against granting permanent most-favored-nation status to China. Additionally, David Bonior specifically mentions his support for this legislation in his book entitled, Walking to Mackinac.
Cockfighting
Congressman Bonior believes we should close the loophole that allows interstate shipment of birds for fighting. Cockfighting is banned in 47 states — including Michigan. Without a ban on the shipment of these birds, cockfighting has continued to thrive even in states where it is supposedly against the law, because enthusiasts have an excuse for owning the birds and associated gear. Congressman Bonior currently supports including a ban on the shipment of these birds as part of the farm bill.
Puppy Mills
Congressman Bonior supports legislation to crack down on puppy mills. Female dogs are not simply breeding machines. Over-breeding causes serious health problems for the mother and puppies. Commercial dog breeding operations that inhumanely mass-produce puppies need to be held accountable for their mistreatment of these animals by creating a “three strikes and you’re out” penalty for chronic violators.
Pet Protection
Pets bring so much warmth and happiness to their owners that the thought of having a pet stolen is truly disheartening. We need to ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. That’s why Congressman Bonior has been a long-time supporter of the Pet Protection Act. This legislation will prevent Class B dealers from selling animals to research facilities from “random sources.” Far too often, these random animals have been stolen from a loving and caring pet owner. We need to give owners of pets the assurances that their dogs and cats will not be stolen for research or any other purpose.
Downed Animals
Congressman Bonior supports legislation that would make it unlawful for any stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer to transfer or market cattle, sheep, swine, horses, mules, or goats who cannot walk because of illness or injury. With the rising concern over mad cow disease and other food safety risks, the problem of downed animals being bought, sold, transferred, or transported prior to slaughter now carries with it the potential for even more serious threats to the health of consumers. Congressman Bonior has joined with animal protection organizations and many in the livestock industry to push for a strict "no downer" policy as the solution.
Whales
Congressman Bonior has long been a protector of marine wildlife. In an effort to protect whales and their environment, he is a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 180, which reaffirms the United States’ opposition to any commercial and lethal scientific whaling. The resolution would also require us to take significant and demonstrable actions to protect and conserve the world's whale populations.
Dolphins
Congressman Bonior is very concerned about the threat to dolphins posed by the commercial tuna fishing industry. The use of purse seine and drift nets by foreign countries contributes to the needless slaughter of dolphins. Technology has now progressed to the point at which the commercial harvest of tuna need not be accompanied by the killing of dolphins. That is why Congressman Bonior fought along with Congressman George Miller in the 105th Congress to lift the trade embargoes on dolphin‑safe tuna harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and establish a reasonable International Dolphin Conservation Program.
Consumer Products Testing
Congressman Bonior believes U.S. businesses should use non-animal alternatives to test their products. In nearly every instance there are suitable non-animal alternatives that could be used for the testing of products. That’s why he fought for passage of legislation in the 106th Congress which was supported by the Doris Day Animal League to ensure that the Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Validation of Alterative Methods (ICCVAM) protects animals. The ICCVAM needs to certify non-animal test methods to determine risks involved in the use of chemical, pharmaceutical, and other products. The goal is to reduce the number of animals used in testing without compromising the safety of the products upon which we have come to rely.
Safe Air Travel for Animals
Congressman Bonior was a strong supporter of efforts to make air travel safer for pets and other animals. He worked with other leaders in Congress and the Clinton Administration to include protections for pets and animals as part of the Federal Aviation Administration re-authorization bill in the 106th Congress. More than 500,000 animals are transported by air every year and, tragically, an estimated 5,000 of these animals are killed, injured or lost each year. The legislation Congressman Bonior supported requires baggage handlers to take better care when transporting animals and makes information about each airline’s record on animal safety more readily available.
Steel-Jaw Leghold Traps
Leghold traps are unnecessarily cruel and often cause trapped animals to gnaw off their own foot to free themselves from the trap. They also pose a potential threat to humans who could unknowingly step on one and have their leg broken. It is for these reasons that Congressman Bonior has been a long-time supporter of legislation to end the use of steel‑jawed leghold traps on animals in the United States.