[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 38 (Monday, March 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E275-E276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 6, 2017

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, early last month, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) abruptly pulled animal welfare violation documents 
from its website. This database contained thousands of inspection 
reports and other information about violations of the Animal Welfare 
Act and the Horse Protection Act made by research laboratories, zoos, 
dog breeding operations, and other facilities. While the agency has 
begun to repost some of these documents, it has so far only restored a 
small fraction of the information that was taken down. In the meantime, 
consumers and animal welfare advocates lack the transparency needed to 
make informed decisions and hold violators accountable.
  For the life of me, I can't understand why USDA would hide this vital 
information. Ensuring transparency under these laws is a no-brainer. 
Luckily, many of my colleagues feel the same. Today, I am pleased to 
introduce, with 34 of my colleagues, the Animal Welfare Accountability 
and Transparency Act. This bill would require USDA to repost this 
information on its website and would increase accountability for those 
who treat animals inhumanely.
  Providing consumers with information about where their pets come from 
and how animals are treated is the least we can do to discourage people 
from violating the law. It is critical that we ensure the standards set 
forth by Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act are upheld. 
This is why the Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act 
would create an additional incentive to abide by these laws.
  The bill would take away certain tax benefits for businesses that are 
found to be in violation of those laws. Under current tax rules, the 
costs of breeding and working animals are treated the same as machinery 
and equipment, and businesses may deduct these costs from their taxes 
over a specified period. The bill would prohibit businesses found to 
have violated the Animal Welfare Act or the Horse Protection Act from 
claiming these accelerated depreciation bonuses for tax purposes.
  I am also happy to have worked with my colleague from Oregon, Senator 
Ron Wyden, who introduced a Senate version of this legislation late 
last week. This bill is a small step that this Congress can take 
quickly to show that we respond to animal abuse and that the federal 
government should be transparent with consumers. I call on my 
colleagues to support this bill so that we can send a strong message to 
animal abusers across this country that their horrendous actions will 
not be kept in the shadows.

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