The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection this morning passed H.R. 2480, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, to close a loophole in the federal fur labeling law that currently allows many fur-trimmed garments to be sold without disclosing that animal fur is used.

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed H.R. 5566, bipartisan legislation by Reps. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., to crack down on traffickers of animal crush videos.

Saturday’s Washington Post included a story by Rachel Saslow about the growing number of dogs roaming the halls of Congress, and the accompanying photo gallery by Linda Davidson is a real treat. It was timely for me, as I had just had the opportunity to sit down with U.S. Rep.

You’re more and more likely to see dogs at the U.S. Congress these days, as lawmakers bring their canine companions to work with them. But two stories caught my eye this week that made me think cats are making a comeback on Capitol Hill.

My colleagues at The HSUS and HSLF have varied interests and passions when it comes to animals, both at work and “off duty.” We have a good number of dogs who clock in every day at the office, and once in a while you’ll find a foster cat in a cubicle.

Ten states held primary elections yesterday, and voters across the country decided which candidates will face off in the November match-ups.

It’s appropriate that the month of May, which is perhaps best known for Mother’s Day, saw so much activity on the puppy mill issue—and we see light on the horizon for the hundreds of thousands of mother dogs who are kept in wire cages for their entire lives producing litter after litter, without exercise, companionship, or human interaction.

We’ve always known that statewide ballot initiatives have intangible benefits for the animal protection movement, in addition to getting new public policies enacted for animals. Thousands of animal advocates are trained in the political process when they gather signatures, knock on doors, or otherwise participate in campaigns. Millions of voters deliberate on animal protection issues when they walk into the voting booth and have to select “Yes” or “No” on a measure.

New York Assemblyman Gideon J. Tucker—the author of a mid-19th century animal cruelty law—wrote as a judge in 1866: “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.”

I testified this afternoon at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, in support of H.R. 2480, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act. This bill, introduced by Representatives Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Mary Bono Back (R-Calif.), along with its counterpart, S.