We have posted the preview version of our annual Humane Scorecard to help you assess the position of federal legislators on our priority measures. If you do not see your senators and your representative listed as co-sponsors of key bills, we hope you’ll reach out, asking them to promptly co-sponsor them. In addition to holding elected officials accountable for their votes, the scorecard creates incentives for federal legislators to assert leadership on humane issues and take the pro-animal position on a range of actions. With one third of the U.S. Senate and the entirety of the U.S. House of Representatives standing for election in 2026, this record can also help you decide which candidates to support.
During the first session of the 119th Congress, we confronted some consequential challenges. The workforce reductions in the federal government, the extended fight in both chambers over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Senate deliberations over federal agency appointments and judicial nominations, and the longest government shutdown in American history all made it more difficult for us to spotlight our animal protection agenda, and the major political divisions of the last several years haven’t helped. We work on hundreds of issues involving a range of federal agencies with responsibilities for regulating and upholding animal welfare. We’re examining the combined impact of these developments in every agency and Capitol Hill as we develop our strategy for the remainder of the 119th Congress.
Animal Welfare Regulation and Enforcement
One measure we’re scoring goes to the heart of the case for intelligent and well-coordinated regulation and enforcement concerning animal use. The Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act (S. 1538/H.R. 3112) is one of the most constructive animal welfare proposals to emerge in decades. Its purpose is to strengthen pathways of collaboration between the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to bolster enforcement and deter violations. We’re scoring it for both chambers, and with 27 co-sponsors in the Senate and 162 in the House, we’re optimistic about its progress. The Better CARE for Animals Act is the only bill we’re scoring for the Senate.
Puppy Mills
The Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 2253) addresses the poor practices and standards in USDA licensed large-scale dog breeding facilities also known as puppy mills, which remain a national embarrassment. The bill would prohibit the use of stacked cages and gridded or wire cage flooring, require space for exercise, ensure greater protection from extreme heat and cold, require prompt veterinary care for illness or injury, and compel breeders to take steps to find suitable homes for retired breeding dogs rather than killing them. We’re scoring this bill for the House, and it currently has 166 co-sponsors.
Horse Slaughter
The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1661) will prohibit the reopening of horse slaughter plants in the U.S. and the export of American horses to slaughter for human consumption. Horse slaughter is inherently cruel due to the unique biology of horses, and more than 80% of Americans oppose it. Horses destined for slaughter are shipped long distances without food, water or rest in crowded trucks and are often seriously injured in transit. This predatory industry doesn’t “euthanize” old, sick horses; young and healthy horses are purchased, often by buyers misrepresenting their intentions, and killed for the overseas horsemeat market. We’re scoring this bill for the House, and it currently has 192 co-sponsors.
Endangered Species
A positive score indicates that the Representative voted against a floor amendment to the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to exempt defense-related activities from the Endangered Species Act and to prohibit the designation of military and certain National Guard lands as critical habitats under the ESA, exposing endangered and threatened species to unrestricted harm and possible extinction. The U.S. Department of Defense manages nearly 27 million acres of land, including old-growth forests, tallgrass prairies, coastal beaches and wetlands, making military installations a haven for rare species. The department has long worked to meet its ESA obligations while maintaining military readiness, and there is no evidence that compliance with the ESA threatens our nation’s security.
USDA and FDA Animal Welfare Programs
To score well, a House member needed to be one of the 185 representatives who co-signed a group letter or submitted a corresponding individual request in May 2025 to the appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA and Food and Drug Administration. These letters sought provisions in the fiscal year 2026 funding bill for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to promote alternatives to animal testing, provide shelter for domestic violence survivors with pets through the Protecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grant program, and to assist veterinarians working in designated veterinary shortage areas. The letter also requested the strict exclusion of provisions attacking state and local farm animal welfare laws.
Shuttering Horse Slaughter Plants in the U.S.
Representatives scored positively for being among the 126 who co-signed a group letter to the appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA and FDA requesting a “defund” provision in the FY 2026 funding bill. This letter called for permanently prohibiting funds to the USDA to inspect horse slaughter plants, thus preventing such plants from ever operating in the U.S.
Congressional Animal Protection Caucus Membership
For the first time ever, we’re scoring membership in the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, one of the largest bipartisan caucuses on the Hill, with more than 130 members at the current time.
During the remaining weeks of this congressional session, we’ll be seeking additional co-sponsors for the above-referenced bills. We can use your help. Please take a close look at the record, take action to press your legislators for support, and let us know the outcome. We’re counting on you.
