Humane Society Score Card 113th Congress

[Beringia]

http://www.hslf.org/assets/pdfs/humane-scorecard/humane-scorecard-2013.pdf





























Horse Soring
A ✔ indicates cosponsorship of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1518), to crack down on the cruel practice of “soring,” in which trainers deliberately inflict pain on the hooves and legs of Tennessee walking horses and certain other breeds to exaggerate their
high-stepping gait and gain an unfair competitive advantage at horse shows

Eggs and Hen Housing
A ✔ indicates cosponsorship of the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments (H.R. 1731), to provide for a uniform national standard for the housing and treatment of egg-laying hens, phased in over a period of 15-16 years, that will significantly improve animal welfare while providing a stable future for egg farmers.

Animal Fighting Spectators
A ✔ indicates cosponsorship of the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act (H.R. 366), to establish misdemeanor penalties for knowingly attending an organized animal fight and felony penalties for knowingly bringing a minor to such a fight.

Horse Slaughter
A ✔ indicates cosponsorship of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1094), to protect horses and consumers by prohibiting the transport and export of U.S. horses to slaughter for human consumption. American horses are not raised for food and are routinely
given hundreds of drugs over their lifetimes that can be toxic to humans if ingested.

Agriculture Subsidies
A ✔ indicates a vote in June for an amendment to the Farm Bill (H.R. 1947), to reform the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by increasing access for farmers and eliminating payments to projects that do not show strong conservation benefits. The amendment would lower the EQIP payment cap; prioritize projects that focus on managing farmland and habitat; provide financial support and technical assistance to help livestock producers reduce their nontherapeutic use of antibiotics; limit payments to confined animal feeding operations for constructing new waste facilities; provide greater support for farmers transitioning to organic farming and more environmentally friendly pest management practices; and set aside at least 10 percent of the funding for wildlife-focused projects.

Farm Bill I
A ✔ indicates a vote in June against final passage of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947). House leadership refused to allow floor debate of any animal welfare amendments, including an effort to strike the dangerous and overreaching King Amendment, which aims to negate state laws regarding agricultural production and manufacture.

Farm Bill II
A ✔ 3 indicates a vote in July against final passage of the revised Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (H.R. 2642), which retained the King Amendment and again afforded no opportunity for pro-animal floor amendments.


Funding Letter
A ✔ indicates that a member was one of 164 representatives who cosigned a group letter or who submitted an individual request to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee in April, seeking funds for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Horse Protection Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas and USDA positions through veterinary student loan repayment.

Letter Opposing King Amendment
A ✔ indicates that the member earned extra credit as one of 167 representatives who cosigned group letters in August or who sent an individual letter to the leaders of the House Agriculture Committee urging committee members to reject a provision offered by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, during committee markup. Known as the King Amendment, Sec. 11312 of H.R. 2642 could negate most state and local laws on the production or manufacture of agriculture products. It aims to block state laws protecting farm animals and could also preempt laws covering everything from child labor to dangerous pesticides to labeling of farm-raised fish to tobacco products and fire safety
standards.

Leaders
A ✔ indicates that the member earned extra credit for leading as a prime sponsor of either pro-animal legislation (including items not scored on this chart) or a letter to an agency.