Greetings!
Remember the list we sent a few weeks ago of HSUS federal legislative priorities for this Congress - it included some hot topics like animal fighting, downed animals, puppy mills, wild horse protection and animal welfare act funding?
Well, the time has come and Congress is now rolling full steam ahead -- the bills are beginning to move and in order to keep them going, they’ll need as much constituent involvement as possible!
This will be a busy Congress – and we are especially grateful to have such an effective Key Activist Network to speak out (and shout out) on behalf of the animals – Thank You! You have seen both of the issues below in recent HUMANElines – so this is just a reminder that every call is critical – yours and your friends! Do whatever you can please to spread our message!
Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information!
Very best regards,
Andrea
PS. Please recruit others – we can’t stress enough the importance of generating as much action as possible on these issues – the animals absolutely need our support! Just forward the HUMANElines links below with a little personal note…that’s all it takes!
There has been some movement on several federal issues but for right now, there are two critical areas where we especially need your help.
1.Funding for Enforcement of Animal Welfare Act
We are fortunate to have several house and senate members who have championed efforts to secure funds for USDA’s enforcement of key animal welfare laws - the Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, laws that are supposed to provide basic protections for millions of animals at commercial breeding facilities, laboratories, zoos, circuses, airlines, and slaughterhouses.
Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Carl Levin (D-MI) and Representatives Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) are again leading the way-circulating a letter for other legislators to co-sign.
We are in a critical phase right now – working against the tide of
time. Bringing as many legislators on board as possible is critical for both
the house and senate letters, but the house letter in particular has a
deadline for end of day tomorrow (Thursday).
I’ve attached a list of legislators who have already signed onto the letters – if your members are on the list, please make a very important thank-you call!
HUMANElines – Enforcement Is An Animals Best Friend: https://community.hsus.org/humane/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3268808
2. Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act
This Congress- we are absolutely determined - will be the final round for this legislation. The US Senate just recently passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act and Now the bill is in the House of Representatives - so close to making it over the finish line.
This certainly is not an unfamiliar issue to you – last session we came so close to getting the animal fighting legislation into the omnibus bill – and so many activists made their voices heard at that time.
Again, this is where we especially need your help. As you know -- it is critical that your US Representative hear from constituents who want to increase penalties for animal fighting. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act increases penalties to a felony level for the interstate traffic in animals for dog fighting, cockfighting, and hog-dog fighting and the barbaric weapons used in cockfights. Without this increase from a mere misdemeanor to a felony – there simply is not enough incentive for enforcement of animal fighting laws…and animals continue to suffer.
Click here for a list of co-sponsors for the animal fighting bill currently in the house: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00817:@@@P
But please, even if your representative is already a co-sponsor it is still critical that you call – believe it or not, members often need to be reminded of their co-sponsorship so they know how to vote when a bill comes up for a vote. Your “thank-you” could be the perfect reminder and a great way to let them know you appreciate their support for animals.
HUMANElines – Put An End To Animal Fighting:
https://community.hsus.org/humane/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3281818
A Little Heads Up –
Our federal lobbyists have reported that the bills regarding wild horse protection and a ban on the sale and slaughter of horses for human consumption are moving – you will hear from us again very soon with news about progress and how you can help.
Here is a link to the alert we most recently sent out …
https://community.hsus.org/humane/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3264810