Elections /
Presidential Candidates Ask, "Where’s the Beef?"
In the wake of the nation’s largest beef recall in history, food safety and animal welfare have become part of presidential campaign season. I wrote yesterday that Senator Hillary Clinton issued a statement calling for better safeguards in our food inspection system.
Elections /
Beef Recall and Presidential Politics
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a massive recall of 143 million pounds of beef—four times larger than what was previously the biggest beef recall in the nation’s history—after revelations that sick and injured cows were abused in horrifying ways and fed to the nation’s school children and other consumers.
Uncategorized /
Criminal Charges over Crippled Cows
The San Bernardino County District Attorney filed criminal charges Friday against two slaughter plant workers who abused cows too sick or injured to stand up, as revealed in recent weeks by a shocking undercover investigation by The Humane Society of the United States.
Elections /
Motor City Madness
At the Humane Society Legislative Fund, one of our goals is to let constituents know where their elected officials stand on animal protection issues. We publish the Humane Scorecard, which tracks legislators’ voting records and co-sponsorships on key animal welfare measures. We celebrate lawmakers who use their skills and talents to advance the humane treatment of animals, and we hold those accountable who are hostile to modest and common-sense reforms to stop cruelty and abuse.
Elections /
Shakeup in the Chesapeake
When the early returns trickled in last night in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, it was clear that Senators Barack Obama and John McCain would sweep the Potomac Primary. But there were a couple other Chesapeake Challenges that captured my attention all night long, and weren’t settled until early this morning.
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Animals Have Lost a True Friend with Lantos' Passing
Driving to work this morning, I heard the sad news that Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) had passed away from esophageal cancer. While Lantos will be remembered for many things—as an extraordinary public servant, as the only Holocaust survivor to serve as member of Congress, and as the powerful chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to name a few—I will remember him as an extraordinary leader for the cause of animal protection.
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Be a Citizen Lobbyist
Next Wednesday, lawmakers at 23 state capitols will get a visit from animal advocates. Thousands of citizens across the country who care about animal protection will participate in our 2008 Humane Lobby Day, and will ask their own legislators to support bills dealing with dogfighting, pets in disasters, Internet hunting, fur labeling, and other important policy reforms.
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Don't Pull the Fur Over Our Eyes
Today, The Washington Post reported that Maryland state Delegate Tom Hucker (D-Montgomery County) is introducing a bill to require the labeling of fur garments, in response to rampant deception in the fur-trimmed apparel industry. The Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Economic Matters Committee both commented favorably on the reform, sending a signal that enactment of this important policy to protect animals and inform consumers is within our reach.
Uncategorized /
Wave of Outrage Continues in Wake of Downer Scandal
The dairy cow slaughter plant scandal grows. More than 150 school districts across the country have stopped serving beef from the Westland slaughter plant , in response to an HSUS investigation.
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Torture of Cows Causes Shock Waves
The shocking investigation into farm animal cruelty at a California meat packing plant that supplies the nation’s school lunch program continued to have ripple effects on Capitol Hill and around the country. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, called for quick action and asked the USDA to investigate fully.
