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Latest News
USMCA Commission Urged to Investigate Mexico’s Failure to Protect Vaquita Porpoise
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Washington, DC—Conservation groups petitioned the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) today to investigate Mexico’s failure to enforce its fishing and trade laws. Mexico’s enforcement failures violate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and if continued will...
Rep. DeFazio Introduces Bill to Ban Deadly “Cyanide Bombs” on Public Lands
Monday, August 09, 2021
Washington, DC—A bill introduced Friday by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) seeks to ban the use of wildlife-killing M-44 devices, commonly known as “cyanide bombs,” on federal public lands. These deadly devices—spring-loaded capsules armed with cyanide...
Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act Would Protect Animals, Wild and Domestic
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Congressional Animal Protection Caucus Co-Chair Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) for reintroducing the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act today. This bill would prohibit...
Mexico Drastically Eases Enforcement in Vaquita “Zero Tolerance” Area
Friday, July 16, 2021
La Paz, Mexico—Mexico announced this week that it will ease fishing enforcement in the vaquita’s core Upper Gulf of California habitat at a time when only 10 of these tiny porpoises remain on Earth. The...
Indigenous-Directed Short Film Asks Interior Secretary Haaland to Return Federal Protections to Gray Wolves
Wednesday, July 07, 2021
Billings, MT—The Global Indigenous Council today released “FAMILY,” a short film highlighting the deep cultural connection Indigenous nations share with wolves and the major threats currently facing imperiled wolves in the lower 48 states. The...
IWC Report Emphasizes Enormous Value of Living Whales to Ocean Ecosystems
Tuesday, July 06, 2021
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was founded to regulate whaling. Today, it increasingly focuses on the value of live whales for planetary health. A new workshop report confirms the great ecological value of whales to...
House Committee Moves to Reform Federal Wild Horse Program
Thursday, July 01, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) commend the US House Appropriations committee for advancing bipartisan language today that would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to implement...
House Votes to Ban Unsafe Horse Transport
Thursday, July 01, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds the US House of Representatives for passing the Horse Transportation Safety Act (HTSA) today as part of a massive infrastructure bill. The HTSA would ban the use of...
Animal Welfare Groups Commend US House of Representatives for Passing Critical Amendment to Ban Horse Slaughter
Thursday, July 01, 2021
Washington, DC—The US House of Representatives yesterday passed the Carter-Fitzpatrick Amendment to the INVEST in America Act, which would ban the slaughter of American equines. Led by Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Steve...
Senate Revives Legislation to End Cruel Practice of Horse Soring
Friday, June 25, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) endorses Thursday’s reintroduction in the Senate of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (S. 2295) to combat the inhumane practice of “soring,” whereby individuals intentionally inflict pain on...
Safe Horse Transport Legislation Headed to Full House for a Vote
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for passing the Horse Transportation Safety Act (HTSA) today as part of surface transportation legislation. The HTSA would ban the...
Animal Welfare Groups Commend Federal Lawmakers for Reintroducing Bill to Ban Horse Slaughter
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Washington, DC—Federal lawmakers reintroduced legislation today to permanently ban horse slaughter in the United States and end the current export of American horses for slaughter abroad. Sponsored by US Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Vern...
Bill Reintroduced to Strengthen Vital Protections under the Animal Welfare Act
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) welcomes the reintroduction yesterday of the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). This bill would protect animals from unscrupulous dealers and exhibitors, and close existing...
Bill Introduced to Protect Companion Animals from Unscrupulous Dealers
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) welcomes the reintroduction of the Pet Safety and Protection Act by Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ). This crucial legislation would prevent companion dogs and cats from...
Rare Red Wolves Released in North Carolina after Federal Court Ruling
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Chapel Hill, NC—Red wolf captive breeding facilities today announced the release of four adult red wolves into eastern North Carolina after conservation groups won a federal court ruling in January that required the US Fish...
Legislation Reintroduced to End the Dangerous Primate Pet Trade
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) endorses today’s reintroduction in Congress of the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA), which would end the cruel and dangerous pet primate trade in the United States. Nonhuman primates are...
House Reintroduces Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act to Protect Sharks from Cruel Finning
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Washington, DC—Today on Earth Day, Representatives Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-MP) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) reintroduced the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act. The bill, which is endorsed by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), would prohibit...
Conservation Groups Petition US Wildlife Officials to Ban Import, Sale of Banggai Cardinalfish
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Washington, DC—Conservation groups filed a petition today urging the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ban the import and sale of threatened Banggai cardinalfish from Indonesia. The Banggai cardinalfish—a coral reef inhabitant noted for its...
Big Cat Public Safety Act Reintroduced in Senate
Monday, April 19, 2021
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute commends today’s reintroduction of the Big Cat Public Safety Act in the US Senate. Championed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Richard Burr (R-NC)...
Norway Urged to Stop Planned Auditory Experiment Involving Captured Minke Whales
Monday, April 12, 2021
NOAH, Norway’s largest NGO for animals, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), and WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) are urging Mattilsynet, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, to revoke its approval of a potentially cruel and dangerous...