Public Policy (Legal/Legislative)
Reckless Bill in Congress Would Harm Polar Bears and the Environment
Make no mistake, there’s a lot of support for animal issues in the U.S. Congress. The anti-animal fighting bill, H.R. 2492, making it a federal crime to be a spectator at animal fights has 226 cosponsors (a majority of the House), and the Senate version . . .
110 Chimpanzees from New Iberia Research Center Will Be Safe from Testing
Today, we received a telling sign that the United States will soon see the end of invasive experiments on chimpanzees, bringing to a close a long, sad, and inhumane chapter in the history of American science and public health. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the . . .
Clock Ticking in Effort to Protect California Bears and Bobcats from Hounding
In late August, the California Senate gave final approval to legislation authored by state senator Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, to stop the inhumane and unsporting practice of hounding bears and bobcats. For a variety of reasons, California had long withstood the trend in the West to . . .
$75,000 Fine and Probation Handed Down in Notorious Horse Soring Case
Yesterday, in a packed Chattanooga courtroom, the Hon. Harry S. Mattice, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, handed down penalties in the horse abuse case involving Jackie McConnell—the Hall of Fame trainer of Tennessee walking horses, who in 2011 was captured on . . .
Talk Back: Bill Introduced to Strengthen Horse Protection Act
Yesterday, Congressmen Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., introduced legislation in the U.S. House to strengthen the Horse Protection Act and allow for a stronger crackdown on the widespread abuse within the Tennessee Walking Horse show world. There’s been a fever pitch about this . . .
Federal Court Upholds California’s Historic Prop 2 Ballot Measure
Of all the victories for animal protection in recent decades, California’s 2008 Proposition 2 ballot measure stands out as one of the biggest and most far-reaching. It was one the most comprehensive farm animal protection measures ever attempted, launched in the largest state in the . . .
New Day in Ohio As Exotics Law Takes Effect
Yesterday, Ohio’s exotics law, signed by Governor John Kasich in June, took effect—more than a month before the October 18th anniversary of the worst captive wildlife incident in American history. In Zanesville, Terry Thompson, a mentally troubled owner of more than 50 large mammals, including . . .
Dog Days of Summer for Congressman Steve King
Editor’s note, Aug. 8, 2012: Stephen Colbert spoofed Rep. King’s outrageous comments about animal fighting in this must-see segment of The Colbert Report. Iowa Congressman Steve King is feeling the heat in the wake of his surreal attempts to justify his recent vote against an . . .
Rep. Steve King, Defender of Animal Fighting
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, gives very literal meaning to the term “backward thinking.” In a telephone town hall last night, Rep. King defended his campaign to block pending federal legislation to crack down on dogfighting. Specifically, the legislation he tried to defeat makes it a . . .
Talk Back: A Sea Change on Gestation Crates, and Outrage against King Amendment
It was a big moment, earlier this year, when McDonald’s made a joint announcement with The HSUS that the best-known restaurant chain in the world would start the process of phasing out purchases of pork from producers who confine sows in gestation crates. We’ve seen . . .
Rep. Steve King Attempts to Slash Protections for Animals, Workers, and the Environment
Iowa Congressman Steve King thinks it’s fine to spend taxpayer money doling out billions to corporate farmers in the way of direct payments, crop insurance, predator control programs, and other subsidies. He’s built a reputation on it. The HSUSKing's proposal threatens state laws such as . . .
Animal Fighting Penalties Advance in Congress, and a Dangerous Attempt to Overturn State Animal Welfare Laws
Last night, during consideration of the 2012 farm bill, the House Agriculture Committee approved an amendment that is intended to overturn every voter-approved animal welfare ballot measure relating to agriculture–Prop 2 in California (banning extreme confinement crates for pigs, veal calves, and laying hens), Prop . . .
