October 16, 2006

Animal Welfare Group Publishes Full-Page Ad Today in Ventura County Star Urging Voters to Re-Elect Gallegly on November 7th

WASHINGTON —  Citing him as a leader on animal welfare policy in the U.S. House of Representatives, Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) announced that it has endorsed U.S. Representative Elton Gallegly in California’s 24th Congressional District race. The group ran a full-page ad in today’s Ventura County Star announcing its endorsement of Gallegly.  

"Representative Elton Gallegly has been a true leader in promoting the humane treatment of animals, and has had a record of success in advancing public policies to protect animals," said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "In order to pass humane laws, we need humane lawmakers like Representative Gallegly. Voters in California’s 24th district who care about animal welfare should support his re-election."

Representative Gallegly is the co-author of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act (H.R. 817) to crack down on illegal dogfighting and cockfighting. The bill establishes a felony-level penalty for any interstate or foreign transport of animals for fighting purposes, and also makes it a crime to move cockfighting implements—such as razor-sharp knives and ice-pick-like gaffs strapped to roosters' legs—in interstate or foreign commerce.

The need for Gallegly's legislation has become especially urgent as the transport of cockfighting birds has been linked to the spread of deadly bird flu and nine human fatalities in Southeast Asia. The bill has been endorsed by the National Chicken Council, American Veterinary Medical Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, and more than 400 law enforcement agencies. Thanks to Gallegly leadership, the bill now has 324 co-sponsors—three-quarters of the entire House of Representatives.

Representative Gallegly has consistently scored a perfect 100% on the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s Humane Scorecard, for his support of animal welfare issues, including legislation to:

• Stop the inhumane slaughter of America’s horses for consumption overseas.
• Crack down on puppy mills that treat dogs like commodities on a production machine.
• Halt the USDA approval of downed livestock, who are too sick and injured to walk.
• Increase funding for the enforcement of animal welfare laws.
• Require pets to be included in disaster and evacuation plans.
• Stop the unsporting and dangerous practice of bear baiting on federal lands.

In addition, Elton Gallegly’s leadership has helped pass several animal protection measures that are now federal law.

• A law to allow for the adoption of retired military dogs.
• A law to ban the sale of "crush" videos, which hideously depict numerous animal abuses.
• A law to ban the sale of lions, tigers and other large cats for the exotic pet industry.

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.com.

A copy of today’s HSLF ad endorsing Representative Gallegly is available online.

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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.