Congressman Brad Sherman Fights for Animal Protections

Washington DC – Congressman Sherman takes strides to fight for animal protections and ensure humane treatment. Sherman’s work over the last year earned him the “Humane Champion” award from the Humane Society, an honor he has received four years running, and he has consistently received a 100 percent rating on the Humane Society’s legislative scorecard.

“Like many of my constituents, I support strong measures to protect animals and ensure that they are not subjected to undue pain or suffering,” said Congressman Sherman. “With the right action in congress, we can end unnecessary abuse and cruelty toward animals.”

Sherman’s Full Statement of Support for Animal Rights Issues:

Regulating Puppy Mills

It is estimated that 2 million to 4 million puppy mill puppies are sold each year in the United States. Facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale are required to be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), but a loophole in the law allows thousands of puppy mills to sell directly to the public and go unchecked from any federal oversight. Due to improper care and over-crowded conditions, their puppies are often ill, leaving unsuspecting consumers with sick, sometimes dying puppies, expensive vet bills and very unhappy children. Meanwhile, the breeding dogs at these facilities often spend their entire lives in constant confinement and deprivation.
I have cosponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to close this loophole in the Animal Welfare Act that allows thousands of large, commercial breeders to sell puppies over the Internet and escape licensing and regulation. Many of the "puppy-mill" dogs are typically forced to live their entire lives in small cages with no opportunity for exercise or social contact. The PUPS act would require that dogs used for breeding be allowed to exercise outside their primary enclosures every day. I will continue to advocate for this bill, which has been referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Protecting Horses

Horses have played a large role in the history of the San Fernando Valley. From the days of early Hollywood, the “Fat Jones” stables in North Hollywood provided horses to the movies from 1912 to the mid-1960s. Many of us also remember the historic Devonshire Downs race track in Northridge. Today, the equestrian community remains strong and committed to the protection of horses nationwide.

Although all horse slaughter plants in the United States have been shut down, horse slaughter continues to thrive by an unscrupulous industry that ships American horses to Mexico and Canada where the slaughter continues. I joined with my colleagues to introduce the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act in 2009, which would close this loophole by prohibiting the shipment, possession, purchase, sale, or donation of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. While the legislation had over 150 cosponsors, it unfortunately did not make it to the House floor for a vote. I will continue to push to get similar legislation introduced and brought to the House floor for a vote during this session.

Legislation to Stop Cruel “Crush” Videos

Many of us in the Valley were outraged last year by the U.S. Supreme Court decision which struck down a federal law banning video and other depictions of dog fighting and violence against animals, holding that it violated constitutional guarantees of free speech. In response to this decision, essentially upholding grisly acts of animal cruelty, I quickly joined several colleagues to introduce the Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act (H.R. 5566).

This common sense legislation was narrowly crafted to give law enforcement the ability to prosecute people who traffic in videos showing such heinous acts as the intentional crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, or impaling of puppies, kittens, and other animals. With the support of the Humane Society, this legislation passed in the House and Senate and was signed into law by the President.

Stopping Internet Hunting

Internet hunting, also known as remote-controlled hunting, allows people to use a computer and the Internet to kill penned animals which have been lured to a feeding station within range of a mechanized mounted rifle fired by the simple click of a computer mouse. This “pay-per-view” slaughter has no resemblance whatsoever to traditional hunting. It is a practice so cruel that it is denounced by both the Humane Society and the National Rifle Association. It is also banned in 38 states, including California.

However, a federal ban is necessary to permanently end the travesty of Internet hunting. I joined with several members of Congress to introduce the Sportsmanship in Hunting Act (H.R. 2210), which would create a federal prohibition on Internet hunting and establish penalties for those who violate the prohibition. Canned hunting, in which customers pay to shoot tame, exotic animals within the confines of an enclosure where the animals have no chance of escape, would also be banned by the bill.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance these important legislative initiatives to protect animals.

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