WASHINGTON (August 3, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, released an ad highlighting the alleged neglect of animals at a testing facility once owned by Shri Thanedar.

"This ad speaks for itself," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Michiganders who care about animals should know that monkeys and dogs were not provided basic humane care in this case of alleged neglect. We need to ensure that animal cruelty is taken seriously, and we applaud the organizations that stepped in to give these animals a second chance.”

Thanedar reportedly continued this neglect by fighting efforts to place the dogs and monkeys into sanctuaries. Using the care and custody of animals to "make a point" in a legal proceeding is inhumane and unjust.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund invited citizens shocked by this cruelty to sign a petition at www.TellShri.com

BACKGROUND

"The animals' caretakers had reportedly climbed fences to provide food and water until more solid arrangements were made." -- USA Today: Pet Talk: Rescuing 118 test-lab beagles is a labor of dog love (7/13/2010)

“I lost a business, my home, cars. I had a real Ferrari and a Rolls Royce Phantom,” he said. His $6.5 million Ladue mansion, with its in-home theater that could seat 150, went to foreclosure. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Shri Thanedar succeeds in St. Louis, fails, then rises again in Michigan (12/30/2016)

"About 170 dogs and monkeys were rescued in 2010 from an abandoned pharmaceutical testing lab owned by Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidate currently leading in the polls." -- Huffpost: Over 100 Dogs And Monkeys Were Rescued From Michigan Democrat’s Shuttered Company (4/25/2018)

"A top Democratic contender in the Michigan governor's race fought to sell off more than 100 animals at a shuttered pharmaceutical testing facility he owned, court records show, contradicting his account of events that culminated in the neglected animals' rescue." -- Huffpost: Michigan Gov. Candidate Delayed Rescue Of Animals He Claims He Tried To Save (4/28/2018)

“In June 2010, lawyers for Thanedar sought to block a motion by the receiver to have the lab’s dogs and monkeys placed in ‘animal sanctuaries for no compensation.’ His lawyers argued ‘the value of the animals could have a range of between $189,000 and $445,000. The Motion does not indicate whether Receiver has taken any action to sell the animals (i.e. to another testing facility) for the benefit of the creditors.’ Three weeks later, the bankruptcy judge ordered the animals placed in sanctuaries. The order noted that the objection to the motion by Thanedar’s attorneys had been withdrawn." -- Bridge: Truth Squad: Shri Thanedar deflects blame for dire stories on lab animals (5/24/2018)

Media Contact:Press@HSLF.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Mike Levin for California’s 49th Congressional District.

Levin has taken a hard stance against new oil and gas drilling on public lands and in waters, which have disastrous consequences for the habitats of wildlife. He has also spoken out against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s removal of public access to thousands of reports documenting the treatment of animals kept by research labs, roadside zoos, commercial dog breeders, and other regulated operations.

"Mike Levin’s compassion for animals is a welcome change for constituents in California’s 49th Congressional District who support commonsense animal protection measures," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters who care about animals to back his election."

Levin has pledged to support important federal animal welfare issues, including:

• Supporting the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Supporting the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Chrissy Houlahan for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District.

"Chrissy Houlahan has the passion and the drive to be a positive voice for animals in Congress," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters who love animals to back her election."

Houlahan has pledged to support important federal animal welfare issues, including:

• Supporting the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Supporting the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Steven Horsford for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District.

While representing the 4th Congressional District in the 113th Congress, Rep. Horsford cosponsored legislation to protect dogs and consumers by cracking down on puppy mills, to prohibit the transport of horses to slaughter for human consumption, to strengthen laws against the horrific practice of “soring” horses, and to prohibit the interstate trade of primates to be owned as pets. As a state senator, he helped pass legislation prohibiting the possession, keeping or training of animals for fighting, and imposing limitations for the chaining and confining of dogs. He is also an outspoken supporter of wildlife and habitat conservation efforts.

"Steven Horsford has proven himself as a committed leader on commonsense animal protection measures," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters who care about animals in the 4th Congressional District to back his election."

In addition to his previous work for animals, Horsford has pledged to support important federal animal protection issues currently before the U.S. Congress, including:

• The Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• The Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• The Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• The Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• The Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Deb Haaland for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District.

"Deb Haaland is an avid advocate for animals, and will prove to be a compassionate defender of commonsense animal protection issues before Congress," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District who love animals to back her election."

Haaland has pledged to support important federal animal welfare issues, including:

• Supporting the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Supporting the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Supporting the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Supporting the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (H.R. 2327) to make grants to eligible nonprofit organizations that provide trained service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Supporting the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Supporting the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Darren Soto in the Democratic Party Primary for Florida’s 9th Congressional District.

Rep. Soto received a perfect score of “100” on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, cosponsoring a wide range of legislation supporting animal protection issues while voting against several bills that would effectively dismantle existing protections for animals. He also voted for an amendment to the Farm Bill that would clearly extend current dogfighting and cockfighting prohibitions to all U.S. jurisdictions, including the U.S. territories (H.Amdt. 630).

"Darren Soto has been a consistent supporter of commonsense animal protection measures before the U.S. Congress," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support for Rep. Soto, and we encourage voters in Florida’s 9th Congressional District who love animals to back his re-election."

Rep. Soto is a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress. His work in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees has helped shape legislation to strengthen the nation’s commitment to animal protection and conservation.

Among his efforts in the 115th Congress, Rep. Soto:

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 1456) to prohibit the trade of shark fins, for which sharks are hunted and their maimed bodies returned to the ocean.
• Cosponsored the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Voted against the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 21) which would allow Congress to overturn regulations en masse in the last year of a president’s term, endangering popular and broadly supported animal welfare regulations.
• Voted against the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 26) which would negate broadly supported rules, including commonsense measures to implement and enforce animal protection laws.
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that prohibits specific egregiously cruel and unsporting hunting methods on more than 76 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.
• Voted against a harmful rider (H.Amdt. 351) that sought to block regulations that prohibit scientifically unjustified and cruel methods of trophy hunting on over 20 million acres of National Park Service lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Rep. Brendan Boyle for Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District.

Rep. Boyle received a perfect score of "100" on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, cosponsoring a wide range of legislation supporting animal protection issues while voting against several bills that would effectively dismantle existing protections.

Rep. Boyle is a lead sponsor of the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill mirrors his work in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, where he joined in a unanimous vote on House Bill 1750 to criminalize this practice in 2013.

"Brendan Boyle has been a stalwart advocate for animals in Congress," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support for Rep. Boyle, and we encourage voters in Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District who oppose animal cruelty to back his re-election."

Rep. Boyle is a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress.

Among his efforts in the 115th Congress, Rep. Boyle:

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 1456) to prohibit the trade of shark fins, for which sharks are hunted and their maimed bodies returned to the ocean.
• Sponsored the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Voted against the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 21) which would allow Congress to overturn regulations en masse in the last year of a president’s term, endangering popular and broadly supported animal welfare regulations.
• Voted against the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (H.R. 26) which would negate broadly supported rules, including commonsense measures to implement and enforce animal protection laws.
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that prohibits specific egregiously cruel and unsporting hunting methods on more than 76 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.
• Voted against a harmful rider (H.Amdt. 351) that sought to block regulations that prohibit scientifically unjustified and cruel methods of trophy hunting on over 20 million acres of National Park Service lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 24, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Dana Nessel for attorney general of Michigan.

Dana Nessel began her legal career as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office where she was a voice for the voiceless. Nessel understands the correlation between violence against animals and violence against people—and worked to prosecute both. Attorneys general play a critical role in creating and enforcing animal protection laws at the state level and can assist prosecutors in cracking down on animal abusers.

"Dana Nessel will be a champion for animal protection as Michigan’s next attorney general," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to support Dana Nessel, and voters who care about the humane treatment of animals should back her election."

The Humane Society Legislative Fund has consistently played a critical role in championing animal protection measures and supporting humane candidates in Michigan.

Media Contact:press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for with regulated funds by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 9, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Rep. Josh Gottheimer for New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District.

Rep. Gottheimer received a perfect score of 100 on HSLF’s 2017 Humane Scorecard, having supported the full range of priority animal protection legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Josh Gottheimer is a consistent supporter of commonsense federal animal protection policies,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to support Josh Gottheimer, and voters in the 5th District who care about the humane treatment of animals should back his re-election.”

Among his efforts in the 115th Congress, Rep. Gottheimer:

• Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1847) to strengthen the federal law against the “soring” of Tennessee Walking horses in shows—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs to induce a high-stepping gait.
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 1456) to prohibit the trade of shark fins, for which sharks are hunted and their maimed bodies returned to the ocean.
• Cosponsored the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Voted against H.J. Res. 69, a Congressional Review Act resolution to revoke a Fish and Wildlife Services rule that prohibits specific egregiously cruel and unsporting hunting methods on more than 76 million acres of National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.
• Voted against a harmful rider (H.Amdt. 351) that sought to block regulations that prohibit scientifically unjustified and cruel methods of trophy hunting on over 20 million acres of NPS lands in Alaska, including killing hibernating black bear mothers and cubs and shooting caribou while they are swimming and defenseless.
• Voted for an amendment (H.Amdmt. 630) to the Farm Bill to clarify that federal prohibitions against dogfighting and cockfighting activity that affects interstate or foreign commerce apply to all U.S. jurisdictions, including the U.S. territories.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.

WASHINGTON (July 5, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Rep. Matt Gaetz for Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

Rep. Gaetz is a co-leader of the Voluntary Checkoff Program Participation Act. Checkoff programs are mandatory fees imposed on farmers that provide hundreds of millions of dollars to opponents of the humane treatment of animals. He is also the Republican lead on the Chemical Poisons Reduction Act to prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s use of highly toxic and indiscriminate poisons in its predator control programs. He has spoken out against cruel and outdated animal toxicity testing conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, and led the charge to cut funding for such activities while maintaining funding for the development of alternatives.

“Matt Gaetz is a trailblazer for animals in the U.S. Congress,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Congressman Gaetz is fighting to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to harm animals, and western Panhandle voters should re-elect him.”

Among his other efforts in the 115th Congress, Rep. Gaetz has:

• Voted for an amendment (H.Amdmt. 630) to the Farm Bill to clarify that federal prohibitions against dogfighting and cockfighting activity that affects interstate or foreign commerce apply to all U.S. jurisdictions, including the U.S. territories.
• Cosponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (H.R. 909) to protect the human and animal survivors of domestic violence and support the work of domestic violence shelters to accommodate pets.
• Cosponsored the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 1494) to make malicious animal cruelty a crime on federal property and in interstate commerce, and complement the state anti-cruelty laws.
• Cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), to phase out the testing of cosmetics on live animals and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
• Cosponsored the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 1456) to prohibit the trade of shark fins, for which sharks are hunted and their maimed bodies returned to the ocean.
• Cosponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 113) to prohibit the slaughter and export of horses for human consumption overseas.
• Cosponsored the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1406) to prohibit the domestic slaughter, trade and import of dogs and cats for human consumption.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.