November 1, 2006

Animal Welfare Group Urges 30th District Voters to Re-Elect Johnson for Congress on November 7

WASHINGTON —  Citing her as a leader on animal welfare policy in the U.S. Congress, the Humane Society Legislative Fund announced that it has endorsed U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson in Texas’ 30th Congressional District race.

“In order to pass humane laws, we need humane lawmakers like Representative Johnson,” said Richard Patch, political director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Voters in the 30th District who care about animal welfare should support her re-election.”

Representative Johnson has introduced the Captive Primate Safety Act, H.R. 1329. Her legislation seeks to prohibit the interstate commerce in dangerous apes and monkeys for the pet trade. Some 15,000 primates are in private hands, and recent high-profile attacks, as well as disease threats, underscore the need for this legislation. These highly intelligent, social creatures are often kept in small cages in people’s homes and basements, and their teeth and finger nails are ripped out in a cruel attempt to “domesticate” them.

In addition to her leadership on animal welfare issues, Representative Johnson has consistently scored a perfect 100% on the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s Humane Scorecard, supporting the following animal welfare bills:

• Animal Fighting: She co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act to strengthen the penalties for illegal dogfighting and cockfighting, making it a felony to transport animals across state lines for these gruesome and barbaric fights.
• Horse Slaughter: She has voted consistently to end the slaughter of tens of thousands of American horses for food exports to France, Belgium, and other countries. And she has co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
• Pets in Disasters: She co-sponsored the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act to require emergency planning for pets and service animals, keeping people and pets together during disasters.
• Downer Livestock: She co-sponsored the Downed Animal Protection Act, to stop the sale of sick and injured farm animals who are dragged to slaughter with ropes, chains, bulldozers, and forklifts. These “downers” pose a greater risk of “mad cow disease” and other threats to our food supply.
• Puppy Mills: She co-sponsored the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS) to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” that treat the dogs like they are production machines.
• Enforcement of Animal Welfare Laws: She has supported efforts to increase funding to improve enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting law.
• Shadowy Pet Dealers: She co-sponsored the Pet Safety and Protection Act to stop unscrupulous “Class B” dealers from trafficking in stolen pets for animal research.

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. A complete list of HSLF’s endorsements is available online at www.humanevoting.org. 

Media Contact:  Julia Janak, jjanak@hslf.org, (425) 208-1684.

--30--

Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. 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. Contributions or gifts to HSLF are not tax deductible. Your donation may be used for lobbying to pass laws to protect animals, as well as for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates. HSLF does not accept contributions from business corporations or labor organizations. On the web at www.hslf.org.