Before the U.S. Senate adjourned on August 2, members advanced several key federal funding bills with significant implications for animals. We’ve been working hard to ensure the best possible outcomes – and we want to share some of the results with you, since we’re going to need your help to lock in the important gains we’ve secured.
We previously shared the outcomes for animals in one key bill that funds both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Senate passed this measure on a bipartisan 87-9 vote on August 1, and it retained key direction regarding Animal Welfare Act enforcement, prevention of horse slaughter operations in the U.S. and the advancement of alternatives to animal testing.
We worked all out to make sure that this bill was free of any language that would overturn state-level farm animal welfare laws like Proposition 12. However, the U.S. House of Representatives still needs to act on their version of this funding bill, perhaps as soon as September, when the 119th Congress resumes. Request that your elected officials reject any attempts to attach a Prop 12 “fix” to this funding package!
Earlier in the summer, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three other funding bills on which we also worked. With respect to animal protection outcomes, they amounted to a mixed bag for our priority requests.
On the brighter side, the bill funding the Department of the Interior included longstanding language that protects wild horses and burros— thank you again for answering the call to contact your legislators!
In a welcome contrast to the House version of this bill, the Senate measure does not contain policy riders that would further imperil endangered species like gray wolves and grizzly bears, and here too, you have a chance to weigh in: Tell your legislators protect wildlife!
We were determined to ensure that these funding bills and their associated reports contained strong, directive language to make it clear to federal agencies that Congress is watching their work and expects enforcement of existing federal law. We were pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee included our requests for direction to such agencies including:
- The Department of Justice, to continue coordinating and collaborating with USDA on AWA enforcement cases
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to continue enforcing the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to continue enforcing the Big Cat Public Safety Act
Unfortunately, not all of the animal-related outcomes in these bills were rosy. While a modified version of our requested language supporting the increased use of non-animal methods at the National Institutes of Health was included, we were seriously dismayed to see $30 million allocated for the expansion of primate infrastructure.
In light of recent announcements and actions to move away from animal testing and research at NIH, it’s confounding that the Senate would provide dedicated funding condemning monkeys to painful and unnecessary testing. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to take action in early September on this bill. Please urge your legislators to reject this funding!
We know that you rely on us to work hard for animals every step of the way, and when it comes to congressional deliberations on appropriations, we give it our very best. And when the Congress reconvenes in a few weeks, we will continue to advocate for animals and keep a close eye on these funding bills. In the meantime, we hope you can join us in requesting that your Representative and Senators take steps to protect all animals!
