Now at Big Cat Rescue Jan 28 2014

Lobby Day Jan 29 at 6PM at Humane Society of Tampabay

News from the Humane Society Legislative Fund

I have great news to share with you: The Farm Bill conference report released yesterday by the House-Senate conference committee includes two major wins on animal welfare issues!

The compromise bill includes a provision making it a federal crime to attend or bring a child under the age of 16 to an animal fighting event, based on the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which will fortify the federal law against organized and barbaric dogfighting and cockfighting rings. The Farm Bill also jettisoned the dangerous and overreaching “King amendment,” which sought to nullify state laws setting standards for agricultural production and threatened so many laws on animal welfare around the country.

Defeating the King amendment and enacting the animal fighting spectator legislation are top priorities for HSLF. Thank you so much to all who took action and helped to achieve positive outcomes on these two critical issues for animal welfare.

Now we must finish the job. With the animal fighting provision in the Farm Bill package, and the King amendment out, we must urge lawmakers to pass it. The House may vote as soon as tomorrow, and the Senate shortly after that, so please contact your Senator and Representative today and urge them to vote “Yes” on the Farm Bill conference report.  You can find their numbers here: OpenCongress.gov

Mike Markarian, President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund