[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 27 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       POLAR BEAR PROTECTION ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2002

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, in a civilized society we oppose the 
mistreatment of animals. When that cruelty takes place in a public 
forum, as the worst example of ``entertainment,'' we should be 
outraged. This is exactly what's happening in Puerto Rico.
  That is why I introduced the Polar Bear Protection Act. This bill 
would simply make it illegal to have a polar bear in a traveling 
circus.
  This bill will end the suffering of seven polar bears in the Suarez 
Brothers' circus in Puerto Rico, where the bears are tortured every day 
by being dragged from one tropical city to another. They are 
consistently exposed to high temperatures, lack of sufficient water, as 
well as whipping and other abuses.
  Polar bears' natural habitat in Northern Alaska averages below 11 
degrees Fahrenheit. They are Arctic marine mammals that spend a 
significant amount of time in the water. However, there are loopholes 
in federal animal protection laws that allowed the Suarez Brothers' 
circus to enter Puerto Rico with seven polar bears. The circus has 
exposed these bears to temperatures as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit 
and denied them sufficient access to water. This is an outrage, Mr. 
Speaker.
  The circus has been under investigation by authorities in Washington, 
DC and Puerto Rico. Just last week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
confiscated one of the polar bears and placed it safely in the 
Baltimore zoo. But we need to make sure that the other six bears are 
not forgotten and that polar bears will not suffer like this in the 
future.
  Polar bears are beautiful, dignified animals that belong in their 
natural arctic environment or in accredited zoos that can guarantee 
cool containment areas and access to water. The bottom line is that the 
circus is just not an appropriate place for a polar bear. We in 
Congress have the power to stop this outrage and end the cruelty. I 
urge my colleagues to join with me to prohibit the use of polar bears 
in circuses.

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