April 12, 2007

WASHINGTON (April 12, 2007)—After casting his latest vote in opposition to a mainstream and broadly supported animal protection reform, the Humane Society Legislative Fund named U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) one of a handful of America's worst members of Congress on animal protection issues. Garrett was the first lawmaker to have this inhumane distinction, and others will be named throughout the year.

Just before the spring recess, Garrett voted against a popular bill-even flip-flopping after he had co-sponsored the legislation-to toughen the federal penalties for illegal dogfighting and cockfighting. The U.S. House passed the bill by a landslide vote of 368-39, but Garrett was the only legislator from the entire northeast region on the "No" side.

In his three terms in Congress, Garrett has amassed an indefensible record on animal protection issues. In addition to siding with the animal fighting lobby to maintain weak penalties for dogfighting and cockfighting, Garrett has also opposed legislation to protect household pets from disasters, and has supported the inhumane slaughter of horses for human consumption. In each case, he was among a small number of members of Congress who oppose common-sense animal protection efforts.

"Scott Garrett is out of step with the mainstream values of New Jersey voters," said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "He has sided with dogfighters and cockfighters, voted to continue slaughtering America's horses so the French and Belgians can eat horse meat, and even opposed disaster planning to protect pets. He is simply too extreme on common-sense animal welfare issues."

Garrett was also the only New Jersey vote in favor of oil and gas drilling in the fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Ironically, New Jersey's 5th Congressional District has more Humane Society members than nearly any other district in the country. Garrett's votes on animal welfare issues include the following:

• Animal Fighting: After agreeing to co-sponsor the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act and assuring his constituents that he would support it, Garrett opposed this bill to increase penalties for violations of the federal law to combat dogfighting and cockfighting. The vote was 368-39 on March 26, 2007. He previously voted to de-fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture's enforcement of the nation's animal fighting law, on July 14, 2003.
• Pets in Disasters: During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of pets were stranded because owners were not allowed to evacuate with their animals. Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act which now requires state and local agencies to provide disaster planning for pets. The bill passed on May 22, 2006, by an overwhelming margin of 349-24, but Garrett again stood alone in the New Jersey delegation—and in the entire northeast-in opposing the bill.
• Horse Slaughter: Garrett has repeatedly voted against popular bipartisan legislation to stop the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas. On May 19, 2005 he voted against an amendment to prevent the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses from public lands, which passed 249-159. On June 8, 2005, he opposed an amendment to bar U.S. Department of Agriculture approval of horse meat, which passed 269-158. And last year he voted against the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would stop all horse slaughter for human consumption. The bill passed the House on September 7, 2006, by a vote of 263-146. Every time, Garrett was the only vote from the New Jersey delegation on the side of horse slaughter.
• Yellowstone Bison: Garrett has twice voted against legislation that would have stopped the use of taxpayer dollars for the federally sanctioned killing of buffalo in Yellowstone National Park, the last free-roaming herd of buffalo in the United States. Garrett voted in favor of killing Yellowstone bison on July 17, 2003 and again on June 17, 2004.
• Bear Baiting: Garrett voted in favor of the trophy shooting of bears over piles of rotting meat and jelly doughnuts on federal lands. He opposed an amendment that would have prohibited bear baiting, after pressure from the National Rifle Association and other trophy hunting groups, on July 17, 2003.
• Downer Livestock: Garrett voted to allow "downer" cattle-animals who are too sick or injured to walk to slaughter-to enter the human food supply. These animals are often dragged to slaughter with ropes, chains, forklifts, or bulldozers, and they pose a risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, entering the human food supply.  On July 14, 2003, Garrett was once again the only member of the New Jersey delegation to vote against this animal welfare and public health and safety amendment.

Media Contact: Tracey McIntire, 301-548-7793, tmcintire@hsus.org

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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.