October 31, 2006

Animal Welfare Group Urges 5th 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 Nancy Johnson for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District race.

“In order to pass humane laws, we need humane lawmakers like Representative Nancy Johnson,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Voters in Connecticut’s 5th District who care about animal welfare should support her re-election.”

During her distinguished tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Johnson has supported numerous animal welfare bills, such as the following:

• 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 voted several times to end the slaughter of tens of thousands of American horses for food exports to France, Belgium, and other countries.
• Pets in Disasters: She 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.
• Downer Livestock: She co-sponsored the Downed Animal Protection Act and voted for legislation 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.
• Shadowy Pet Dealers: She co-sponsored legislation to stop unscrupulous “Class B” dealers from trafficking in stolen pets for research.
• Bear Baiting: She voted for legislation to stop the unsporting and dangerous trophy hunting of bears over piles of grease and jelly doughnuts on our federal lands.
• Big Cats: She supported legislation that ended the interstate commerce in lions, tigers, and other big cats for the exotic pet trade.
• 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.
• Drilling in Wildlife Habitat: She has consistently led efforts in the House to block oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to precious species like polar bears and caribou.
• 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.

In contrast, Johnson’s challenger, Connecticut state Senator Chris Murphy, has been an opponent of animal welfare. Senator Murphy voted this year, both in the Environment Committee and on the Senate floor, in favor of the NRA-backed Senate Bill 605, which would have allowed hunting on Sundays for the first time since Connecticut’s colonial days. Sunday is the one day a week during hunting season when hikers, bird watchers, and other outdoors enthusiasts know they can be safe in the woods.

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. 

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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.