October 24, 2006

Animal Welfare Group Urges 10th District Voters to Re-Elect Kirk on November 7

WASHINGTON —  Citing him as a leader on animal welfare policy in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Humane Society Legislative Fund announced that it has endorsed U.S. Representative Mark Kirk in Illinois’ 10th District Congressional race.

“In order to pass humane laws, we need humane lawmakers like Representative Mark Kirk,” said Richard Patch, political director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Voters in the 10th District who care about animal welfare should support his re-election.”

Kirk has consistently been a strong supporter of animal protection issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. As leader of the Suburban Caucus, he has made animal welfare issues a part of the agenda for suburban lawmakers. And he has worked to raise awareness of animal protection issues among his Republican colleagues, helping to bring key pieces of legislation to vote in the House of Representatives.

Representative Kirk has scored high marks on the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s Humane Scorecard, which rates members of Congress based on their voting records and other activities in regard to animal protection legislation. He 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 cast his vote five times to end the slaughter of tens of thousands of American horses for food exports to France, Belgium, and other countries. And he 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.
• Downer Livestock: He co-sponsored the Downed Animal Protection Act, to stop the sale of sick and injured farm animals who are dragged to slaughter with ropes, chains, bulldozers, and forklifts. These so-called “downer” livestock pose a greater risk of “mad cow disease” and other threats to our food supply.
• Puppy Mills: He co-sponsored the Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS) to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” that treat the dogs like they are production machines.
• Antifreeze Poisoning:  He co-sponsored the Antifreeze Bittering Act to require the addition of a bittering agent to sweet-tasting engine coolant and antifreeze to prevent pets, wildlife, and children from being poisoned.
• Primate Protection:  He co-sponsored the Captive Primate Safety Act which seeks to prohibit the interstate commerce in dangerous apes and monkeys for the exotic pet trade. Some 15,000 primates are in private hands, and recent high-profile attacks, as well as disease threats, underscore the need for this legislation.
• Internet Hunting: He co-sponsored the Computer-Assisted Remote Hunting Act to stop web sites that allow the point-and-click slaughter of live animals trapped in pens at remote “canned hunts.”

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.

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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.