Protecting Animals
Congressman Brad Sherman has consistently earned a 100% rating from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane society, which has awarded Sherman the "Humane Champion Award" for the 15th consecutive year. Sherman is also a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus.
President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Sara Amundson: “Kudos to Congressman Sherman for his wonderful help with animal protection legislation across-the-board! He has once again demonstrated his compassion, earning a 100% on our annual scorecard and reflecting his constituents’ humane values on issues ranging from wildlife trafficking to horse soring to puppy mills. We count on his consistent support every year, and so do the animals.”
Below are some the latest issues that Sherman is working on in Congress to ensure the welfare and humane treatment of animals
Stopping Inhumane Puppy Mills
Congressman Sherman has worked to protect the thousands of puppies at puppy mills that are sold directly to the public without any federal oversight. These puppies are often malnourished and fall ill due to overcrowded conditions and improper care.
Sherman cosponsored the bipartisan Puppy Protection Act to require commercial dog dealers to provide adequate housing, veterinary care, socialization, and access to nutritious food and potable water.
Congressman Sherman also cosponsored Goldie’s Act, which requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to frequently conduct site inspections at facilities such as dog breeders’, remove suffering animals from abusive environments, and impose penalties to hold animal abusers accountable.
Stronger Enforcement of Animal Welfare Laws
A top priority for animal welfare advocates has been providing adequate resources to address the critical lack of enforcement funding for animal welfare laws such as the Animal Welfare Act, the Horse Protection Act, the Disaster Planning for Animals Act, and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
These laws require basic protections for millions of animals at thousands of sites across the country, including commercial breeding facilities commonly known as puppy mills, medical laboratories, zoos, and slaughterhouses.
Each fiscal year, Congressman Sherman joins his colleagues in urging the Appropriations Committee, which drafts our nation’s spending bills, to provide the highest possible funding for enforcing these animal welfare laws.
Ending Animal Cruelty
Despite state and federal prohibitions, animals are still subject to cruelty and torture. Recently, Sherman joined colleagues in introducing and passing into law the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, which banned the creation, sale, and distribution of videos that depict the actual, real-life, intentional abuse of animals.
California’s Proposition 12 prohibited the sale of meat from farms that used cruel and inhumane animal confinement practices. Proposition 12 was thankfully upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ahead of that ruling, Sherman joined with colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to support Proposition 12 when the case was being deliberated before the Court.
Protecting Horses
Sherman is continuing to work to improve humane treatment of horses, and crack down on the practice of horse soring – which involves injuring a horse’s hooves and legs to create an artificial high-stepping gait.
Last Congress, Sherman joined colleagues in passing through the House the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which would amend existing federal law to fully eliminate the cruel practice. Sherman helped reintroduce the legislation and will continue to work towards its swift passage.
Congressman Sherman is also a cosponsor of the Horse Transportation Safety Act, which bans unsafe double-deck trailers that haul horses in interstate commerce, and the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, which permanently prohibits the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the transporting or selling of horses to be slaughtered elsewhere.
Research & Cosmetic Testing
Congressman Sherman cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act to ban the sale of cosmetics developed through the use of unnecessary safety testing on animals, which often involves painful experiments, as well as cosponsoring Violet’s Law, legislation that would require researchers to facilitate the adoption of animals used in federal research, thereby saving them from euthanization.
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More on Protecting Animals
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) received the Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society of the United States in recognition of his leadership efforts on animal welfare issues and for his consistently perfect score on the Humane Society’s Legislative Scorecard.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Humane Society of the United States, an American nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties, issued its annual Humane Scorecard of Congress and awarded Conressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) a +100% rating for Sherman's legislative record on animal protection issues.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund has named Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) a 2021 Humane Advocate which is awarded to Members of Congress who scored a perfect 100% on last year's HSLF Humane Scorecard.
"Honored to be named a Human Advocate by the Humane Society Legislative Fund for my efforts in Congress concerning the humane treatment of animals," said Congressman Sherman. "As Mahatma Gandhi said, 'the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.'"
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Brad Sherman received the Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society of the United States. This is Congressman Sherman’s 12th consecutive award from the Humane Society.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman received the Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society of the United States. This is Congressman Sherman’s 11th consecutive award from the Humane Society.
By Congressman Brad Sherman
In my 18 years in Congress I have worked hard to be a champion for animals. Like many of my constituents, I support strong measures to protect animals and ensure that they are not subjected to undue pain or suffering. My work has consistently earned me a 100 percent rating from the Humane Society which has awarded me the “Humane Champion” or the “Humane Advocate” award for eight consecutive years.