Industrial agriculture is continuing the tactic of introducing anti-whistleblower legislation to prevent the investigation and exposure of cruel conditions endured by farm animals on factory farms. These bills, referred to as “ag-gag” bills, had already passed in five states prior to the 2013 legislation session. This year, nine more states introduced legislation to criminalize the methods used by animal, environmental and food safety advocates— such as the taking of photographs and videotape—to expose the realities of factory farming.
Birds, including chickens, are commonly used in animal research. However, housing facilities are often optimized for mammals and contain no ultraviolet (UV) light.
AWI joined 44 other organizations on a letter asking Congress to provide $7.5 million in funding to the many agencies responding to white-nose syndrome (WNS), the disease that is decimating North America’s bat populations, including several endangered species.
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.
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.
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.
In June, the Biden administration proposed regulations aimed at restoring Endangered Species Act implementing regulations that were weakened in 2019 under the prior administration.
It’s too small to see and too big to miss: The H5N1 virus, which causes highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, aka bird flu), has wrought havoc on US poultry and dairy farms and wildlife, contributed to rising food prices, and made dozens of peo
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
