Articles About Government Affairs

Please see the below articles about Government Affairs from past editions of the AWI Quarterly magazine.

Legislators Float Wrong Moves on Right Whales

Vessel strikes continue to be one of the leading threats facing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW). Slowing down vessels is the only proven way to avoid these deadly strikes: Reducing vessel speeds to...

Protecting Horses from Slaughter and Unsafe Transport

AWI worked closely with Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), on the reintroduction of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (HR 3475/S 2037)...

Saner Solutions to Wildlife Management

Two bills were introduced to curb cruel, costly, and dangerous wildlife management methods. In May, Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) reintroduced the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act (HR 3656), a bill...

Pork Industry Pals Try to Torpedo Prop 12

In May, the US Supreme Court upheld California’s ban on certain forms of extreme confinement for farmed animals in California and the in-state sale of eggs and meat from facilities anywhere that use such methods...

Helping Homeless People and Pets

Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) reintroduced the Providing for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act (HR 3957). This bill would make funding available to enable service...

Improving Animal Welfare Act Enforcement

In June, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) reintroduced the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act (AWEIA; HR 3859) in response to the egregious failures by the US Department of Agriculture to properly enforce...

Improving Welfare of Captive Wild Animals

In a surprise move, the US Department of Agriculture published a notice that it was considering changes to its Animal Welfare Act regulations to improve the handling of wild and exotic animals as well as...

Marine Mammal Protection in a Warming World

In March, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) reintroduced the Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act (HR 1383), to protect marine mammals adversely affected by the climate crisis. Since 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act has prohibited...

Correcting Course on Right Whales

In February, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the RESCUE Whales Act (HR 1213). This bill would repeal harmful language included in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus funding package that significantly threatens the survival and recovery...

Phasing Out Mink Farms

AWI spearheaded the introduction in June of the Mink VIRUS Act (HR 3783), sponsored by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY). This bill would establish a one-year phaseout of mink fur farms in the United States and...