Press Release

Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) released a letter signed by over 170 Members of Congress calling for robust funding levels to support key animal welfare programs. As the letter notes, proper federal spending now not only protects animals, it also improves human safety and reduces long term spending.

     “I believe that animals must be treated humanely and have long supported the enactment of and adequate funding for programs to ensure that goal. Strong enforcement measures are needed to prevent the horrifying abuse and exploitation of all types of animals,” said Smith.

     The letter, sent to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA & Related Agencies and dated April 5^th, calls for proper funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Welfare Act Enforcement, Horse Protection Act Enforcement and Investigative and Enforcement Services, as well as the Food Safety and Inspection Service Human Methods of Slaughter Act Enforcement, the Office of the Inspector General Animal Fighting Enforcement and other programs. As stated in the letter:

     …. [B]etter enforcement also benefits people by decreasing: 1) sale of unhealthy pets by commercial breeders, commonly referred to as "puppy mills;" 2) laboratory conditions that may impair the scientific integrity of animal based research; 3) risks of disease transmission from, and dangerous encounters with, wild animals in public exhibition; 4) injuries and deaths of pets on commercial airline flights due to mishandling and exposure to adverse environmental conditions; 5) food safety risks to consumers from sick animals who can transmit illness; 6) injuries to slaughterhouse workers from suffering animals; and 7) orchestrated dogfights and cockfights that often involve illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and human violence, and can contribute to the spread of costly illnesses such as bird flu. Click Here to Read the Full Letter

     “No animal should suffer cruel and inhumane treatment, and the strong bipartisan backing of this letter shows that cracking down on animal abuse is an area where Congress can come together,” said Blumenauer.

     “At a time when partisan divides are so pronounced, it is a testament to the universality of humane values that a record number of legislators from across the political spectrum have joined in calling for essential funding to properly enforce federal animal welfare laws and for a full restoration of inspection reports and other key documents relating to USDA’s oversight of the Horse Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act,” said Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.  “We commend Representatives Smith and Blumenauer for their extraordinary leadership again, as they have done for many years spearheading this annual joint letter, and we urge the Appropriations Committee to continue to be responsive to these appeals.  We also urge USDA to take heed of this strong bipartisan support.”

     Earlier this year Smith, Blumenauer and over 100 other Members of Congress sent a letter to the President calling on the USDA to return key Horse Protection Act (HPA) and Animal Welfare Act (AWA) inspection and annual reports to its website as quickly as possible. These documents, containing information on which organizations do not meet AWA and HPA standards, are used by public citizens, advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies and state governments. While some of the information was returned, last week’s letter included language requesting the APHIS immediately restore access to all documents regarding enforcement of HPA and AWA.

     This Congress, Smith, who was named a Humane Society of the United States Legislative Leader in 2016, also reintroduced the Pet Safety and Protection Act with Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-14). The legislation will protect companion animals from illegal sale for use in laboratory experiments, by prohibiting “Class B” animal dealers from selling dogs and cats to researchers. NIH and other reputable research institutes do not use “Class B” dealers because of the serious problems associated with them and their troubled past. Closing them down once and for all will give people greater confidence in our research programs and go a long way toward reducing animal cruelty.

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