November 1, 2006

Animal Welfare Group Urges 25th District Voters to Re-Elect Doggett for Congress on November 7

WASHINGTON —  Citing him as a leader on animal welfare policy in the U.S. Congress, Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) announced that it has endorsed U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett in Texas’ 25th Congressional District race.

“In order to pass humane laws, we need humane lawmakers like Representative Doggett,” said Richard Patch, political director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Voters in Texas’ 25th District who care about animal welfare should support his re-election.”

Representative Doggett has been a consistent supporter of humane legislation and has maintained one of the best records on animal welfare issues in the state of Texas. He has consistently scored high marks on the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s Humane Scorecard, and has supported numerous animal welfare issues, including:

• Animal Fighting: He 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: He voted consistently to end the slaughter of tens of thousands of thoroughbreds, family ponies, and other horses for food exports to France, Belgium, and other countries. He also co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
• Pets in Disasters: He supported the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, to require emergency planning for pets and service animals, keeping people and pets together during disasters.
• Bear Baiting: He voted to end the unsporting and dangerous trophy shooting of bears over piles of grease and jelly doughnuts on federal lands.
• Yellowstone Bison: He voted to stop the killing of American bison in Yellowstone National Park.
• Enforcement of Animal Welfare Laws: He has supported efforts to increase funding to improve enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting law.
• Big Cats: He supported legislation that ended the interstate commerce in lions, tigers, and other big cats for the pet trade.

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.

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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.fund.org.