WASHINGTON (Sept. 16, 2009)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund announces its endorsement of Pedro Nava in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of California.

"There are several strong candidates for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General, but Pedro Nava stands out for his outstanding leadership and effectiveness on policy issues related to animal protection," said HSLF President Michael Markarian. "In this current legislative session, he introduced and passed three critically important measures to halt cruelty and abuse, and that is a remarkable accomplishment that we acknowledge and salute.”

Representing California's 35th Assembly district, Nava has been one of the leading champions for animal protection in the legislature, initiating several path-breaking public policy reforms for animals.

In his time in the California legislature, Nava:

• Introduced and successfully passed legislation in 2007 that banned the use of toxic lead ammunition in the range of the critically endangered California condor (AB 821).
• Introduced and passed through the legislature the Responsible Breeder Act of 2009 (AB 241) to curb abuses at puppy mills by limiting to 50 the number of adult breeding dogs or cats confined in large-scale commercial operations.
• Introduced and passed through the legislature the Dogfighting Prevention Act of 2009 (AB 242) which upgrades the penalties for attending a dogfight, to crack down on spectators who fuel this criminal industry with admission fees and gambling wagers.
• Introduced and passed through the legislature the Animal Abuse Prevention Act of 2009 (AB 243) to prevent convicted animal abusers from owning other animals in the future.
• Voted for and supported a wide range of other animal protection bills, including measures to prohibit inhumane methods of euthanasia, increase penalties for the killing of sea otters, and ban the sale of meat from "downer" livestock too sick or injured to stand or walk on their own.
• Supported Proposition 2, which was overwhelmingly approved by California voters in 2008 to phase out the inhumane confinement of veal calves, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens in crates and cages where they are essentially immobilized for their entire lives on industrial factory farms.

"The kind of leadership on animal protection issues that Pedro Nava brings is rare," adds Wayne Pacelle, executive vice president of HSLF. "Californians who care about animal protection should cast their ballot for Nava during the primary election."

HSLF notes that two other candidates for Attorney General, Ted Lieu and Alberto Torrico, have also been advocates of the humane treatment of animals, but Nava gets the nod for a career-long commitment to animal welfare and active leadership on these issue.

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. HSLF was one of the leading backers of Proposition 2 on the November 2008 ballot.

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Media contact: Heather Sullivan: 301-548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org

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. On the web at www.hslf.org.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 519 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.