As part of its coronavirus relief package, Congress gave the US Department of Agriculture $300 million to monitor susceptible wild and domestic animals for the presence of COVID-19.
Date created: January 3, 2022
Last updated: April 17, 2024
The United States imports approximately 70 to 85 percent of the seafood Americans consume—more than 6.1 billion pounds each year, nearly half of which is wild-caught.
Date created: June 24, 2024
Last updated: June 28, 2024
AWI has been following the situation involving dozens of wild belugas and orcas captured in the Sea of Okhotsk last summer and held ever since in the so-called “whale jail” in Nakhodka, in Russia’s Far East.
Date created: July 1, 2019
Last updated: August 24, 2020
In June, the Biden administration proposed regulations aimed at restoring Endangered Species Act implementing regulations that were weakened in 2019 under the prior administration.
Date created: December 15, 2023
Last updated: April 17, 2024
Injurious self-biting is one of the most serious problems in primate colonies (Niemeyer, Gray, & Stephen, 1996).
Date created: May 13, 2016
Last updated: October 30, 2020
In July, Caroline Griffin, vice chair of AWI’s board of directors, and Robin Jacobsohn, AWI’s general counsel, participated in the inaugural International Animal Law Commission Seminar, hosted by the International Association of Lawyers.
Date created: September 4, 2024
Last updated: September 13, 2024
“That’s a wake-up call.” These words were uttered by the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), after hearing about the numerous animals killed by horrific body-gripping traps.
Date created: September 18, 2015
Last updated: April 24, 2024
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) applaud the Senate Appropriations Committee for including critical directives in the fiscal year 2022 Interior appropriations bill to protect our nation’s wild horses.
Date created: October 19, 2021
Last updated: January 18, 2024
The Animal Welfare Institute commends the Senate Appropriations Committee for approving the Fiscal Year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which included an amendment defunding federally required inspections of horse slaughter facilities in the United States. The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and identical to an amendment they offered before the Senate Appropriations Committee last year, was approved by a bipartisan roll call vote of 18-12.
Date created: May 22, 2014
Last updated: February 2, 2022
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voice voted in favor of an amendment to the FY17 Agriculture Appropriations bill to prohibit the USDA from spending any funds to inspect horse slaughter facilities. The committee has approved this language for the last few years. Such a move effectively prevents any plants from operating in the United States.
Date created: May 19, 2016
Last updated: February 2, 2022
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) supports the recent Senate reintroduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA) and the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA), both sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), which address the cruel and dangerous problem of exotic pet ownership in the United States.
Date created: October 1, 2019
Last updated: January 18, 2024
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) - citing grave concern over the devastating effect white-nose syndrome (WNS) has had on hibernating bats in New Jersey and across the U.S. - introduced S. 357, the Wildlife Disease Emergency Act, on February 15.
Date created: May 4, 2011
Last updated: April 24, 2024
Senator John Kerry (D-MA), a long-standing champion of whales, introduced legislation in early March “to amend the Whale Conservation and Protection Study Act to promote international whale conservation, protection, and research, and for other purposes.”
Date created: July 9, 2010
Last updated: April 24, 2024
The US House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees have finalized their respective agriculture funding bills for fiscal year 2019. Only the Senate bill, in its present form, includes essential language preventing the commercial slaughter of horses in this country.
Date created: May 25, 2018
Last updated: February 7, 2022
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends Senator Kay Hagen (D-NC) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) for introducing S. 3448, the Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act.
Date created: July 27, 2012
Last updated: February 2, 2022
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has announced Senator John Kerry (D-MA) as the latest recipient of its "Profiles in Compassion" award, recognizing his strong commitment to protecting animals and their habitats.
Date created: January 23, 2009
Last updated: February 3, 2022
Sharks may soon receive much-needed protection from finning, a practice by which their fins are cut off while the animal is still alive. Their mutilated bodies are then thrown back into the ocean, where they endure long, painful deaths from blood loss, suffocation or predation by other species.
Date created: May 18, 2009
Last updated: February 3, 2022
Late Monday night, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011 (S. 1281) to ban double deck trailer transportation of horses in the United States. Senator Kirk has worked to end the use of double deck transports for hauling horses since serving in the House of Representatives, following a horrific double deck trailer accident that took place in his state.
Date created: June 28, 2011
Last updated: February 2, 2022
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds the introduction today of the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA) in the US Senate. Sponsored by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), this bill would amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the use of exotic animals in traveling shows. It is a companion to H.R. 2863, which was introduced by Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) in May.
Date created: July 11, 2019
Last updated: February 7, 2022
The US Senate passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 263/S. 1210) today by unanimous consent.
Date created: December 6, 2022
Last updated: December 6, 2022
On World Oceans Day (June 8) the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, which would prohibit the sale, purchase, and possession of shark fins in the United States, passed the Senate as part of the United States Innovation and Competition Act (S 1260).
Date created: August 19, 2021
Last updated: April 17, 2024
A bill to ban horse slaughter was reintroduced in the United States Senate today. Sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), S. 1176, the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011" will end the slaughter of American horses here and, most urgently, will stop these horses from being exported abroad for slaughter.
Date created: June 9, 2011
Last updated: February 2, 2022
On July 10, the Senate failed to secure the required 60 votes for passage of the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act. This bill, opposed by the Animal Welfare Institute and countless other animal protection and conservation groups, would have had substantial and direct adverse impacts on wildlife, public health, and existing conservation efforts by weakening protections offered by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Toxic Substances Control Act, and would interfere with the authority of federal agencies responsible for managing natural resources.
Date created: July 11, 2014
Last updated: February 2, 2022
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 horses’ hooves and legs to produce an exaggerated high-stepping gait known as the “Big Lick” during competitions and shows.
Date created: June 24, 2021
Last updated: January 18, 2024
Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have reintroduced a bill to ban horse slaughter.
Date created: October 3, 2011
Last updated: April 24, 2024
