[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H2475-H2476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              COCKFIGHTING

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on an issue that I have 
addressed in this Chamber on a number of occasions, cockfighting. But 
today I am here not to reiterate the case against this despicable and 
barbaric practice but to draw attention to a gross misuse of tax 
dollars of hardworking Americans whose funds are being quietly handed 
off by the Department of Agriculture to illegal cockfighters.
  In October, the Federal Government learned of an outbreak in southern 
California of Exotic Newcastle Disease which does not appear to 
threaten people but which is deadly to birds. Though not yet identified 
for certain, it appears that illegal cockfighters are responsible. 
Fighting roosters from Mexico, where there has been an outbreak of 
Exotic Newcastle, have moved illegally into California. The imprint of 
the disease in Mexico is nearly identical to the imprint of the disease 
now spreading throughout the American Southwest.
  Since the outbreak occurred 6 months ago in the United States, the 
disease has spread rapidly. First discovered in Los Angeles County, it 
has spread throughout southern California and into Arizona and Nevada. 
There are now eight affected counties in California, and experts 
predict that more counties will soon be hit as the disease marches 
north. All movements of live birds have been halted in the quarantine 
area and all poultry shows have been canceled throughout the entire 
State. In an effort to contain the disease, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and State agriculture departments have ordered many bird 
flocks depopulated if any bird in a flock has been diagnosed with the 
infection. State and Federal authorities have killed more than 3.2 
million birds, including pet birds, poultry and egg-laying hens from 
commercial flocks, fighting roosters and other birds. Thus far, Federal 
authorities have spent $65 million and cost estimates may climb to $250 
to $500 million before the disease runs its course. The last time there 
was a major outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease in California, it cost 
taxpayers and agriculture an immense impact.
  During the course of the containment exercise, agricultural officials 
have been staggered by the scope of the illegal cockfighting operations 
they have stumbled upon. There are some observers who say that there 
are 50,000 gamecock operations in southern California alone. USDA 
officials, according to news sources, have said that fully one-third of 
the flocks that they have depopulated are gamecock operations. Under 
California law, it is illegal to possess birds for fighting purposes. 
But the USDA is providing millions in compensation to illegal 
cockfighters whose birds have been ordered killed. According to the 
Bakersfield Californian and other newspapers, some individuals are 
being paid up to $1,800 per fighting rooster.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a scandal, a gross and irresponsible use of tax 
dollars. Our Federal Government is paying top-dollar black-market 
prices for live contraband. If there was an outbreak of plant disease, 
would we be compensating marijuana growers for the destruction of their 
crops? Let me repeat, under State law it is illegal to possess birds 
for fighting. Under the provisions of an amendment I sponsored last 
year with the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), it will soon be 
illegal under Federal law to move any fighting birds to or from any 
State or territory in the United States. In short, there is no 
legitimate reason for individuals to possess birds for fighting 
purposes. But they are being remunerated. These people are organized 
criminals and we should not be squandering the tax dollars of 
hardworking Americans by making compensation payments to them. These 
people should not be paid off. They should be prosecuted under State 
and Federal law.
  It is indeed ironic that the Federal Government is paying 
cockfighters more than it is paying pet owners, poultry growers, and 
other individuals who legitimately possess birds in southern 
California. At a time when we are making so many difficult choices with 
Federal expenditures, when we have a war to pay for, when we have a 
soaring deficit, when we are not funding critical environmental 
programs in

[[Page H2476]]

agriculture, the farmland protection bill, wetland reserves program, 
wildlife habitat incentives program, the conservation security program, 
the environmental quality investment program, these critical programs 
to protect the environment and American agriculture, we do not have 
money to fund them adequately, but we are paying out millions to 
illegal cockfighters. This should not happen, and I want this body to 
join me for an accounting by the Department of Agriculture of what is 
happening on the ground in California, Arizona, Nevada, and throughout 
the Southwest.
  Mr. Speaker, soon several colleagues and I will be introducing 
legislation to strengthen penalties for violations of Federal anti-
animal fighting law. These are the same provisions that were passed by 
both the House and the Senate last year in the ag bill but were 
inexplicably stripped away in the conference committee. Now is the time 
to restore the penalties already approved by both Chambers. I hope that 
the Secretary of Agriculture will actively support this change in law. 
Adequate enforcement of Federal anti-animal fighting provisions is not 
only needed to stop the cruelty associated with animal fighting, but it 
is needed to prevent future outbreaks of Exotic Newcastle Disease. I 
hope that even those who are unmoved by the cruelty of animal fighting 
will recognize the threat that this industry poses to mainstream 
agriculture and to the American taxpayer.

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