[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 126 (Thursday, July 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    H.R. 2 AND ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES

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                         HON. BRENDAN F. BOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2018

  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to 
reaffirm my personal and professional commitment to animal welfare 
issues. I also want to make clear that, had I been in Washington, D.C. 
and able to vote, I would have voted YES on Amendment No. 28, roll call 
vote 202, and NO on final passage, roll call vote 205, on May 18, 2018.
   While both a Pennsylvania State Representative and Member of 
Congress, I have continuously fought to strengthen and enforce animal 
welfare laws, and to extend these protections to species as new abuses 
come to light. As a proud member of the Congressional Animal Protection 
Caucus, I have been an active voice in the fight for the humane 
treatment of animals.
   I have cosponsored legislation that prohibits egregious abuses of 
wild and domesticated horses (Safeguard American Food Exports Act, PAST 
Act), opposes the abuse of animals in research (FACT Act, Animal 
Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act), protects the pets of 
victims of domestic abuse (Pet and Women Safety Act), phases out the 
use of live animals in military training (Battlefield Excellence 
through Superior Training Practices Act), outlaws the posting of 
torture of animals on social media (PACT Act), and bans the breeding of 
orcas in captivity (Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act).
   I have also introduced and cosponsored legislation that would 
eliminate the slaughter of dogs and cats for the purpose of 
consumption, both domestically (Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act) 
and abroad (Yulin Dog Meat Festival condemnation resolution). I am 
proud to help lead the effort to ensure language prohibiting the dog 
and cat meat trade is included in the Conference Report on H.R. 2/S. 
3042, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Since its introduction, 
H.R. 1406, the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2017, which I 
co-lead has garnered the support of 245 bipartisan cosponsors--and 
rightfully so.
   I have consistently fought against the King Amendment to the Farm 
Bill, which would undermine state and local laws intended to protect 
animals--and have a devastating effect on laws across a wide range of 
state safety and welfare concerns. I have led numerous efforts to end 
wasteful testing on animals among federal agencies, and to promote 
adoption or humane caretaking for animals used in such testing. I am 
also leading the House effort to close loopholes in the Endangered 
Species Act, our nation's bedrock conservation law, that allow for 
payments in lieu of conservation efforts in exchange for ``take'' 
permits with little-to-no transparency or accountability.
   On May 18, 2018, I would have voted YES on Amendment No. 28, the 
Roskam-Blumenauer Amendment, which would strengthen prohibitions 
against animal fighting by ensuring the law applies to all U.S. 
territories, not just the states. I vow to do all I can to ensure 
commonsense provisions like this are included in the Conference Report, 
and beyond. I certainly wish such provisions weren't necessary in the 
first place, but it is Congress' responsibility to act as necessary to 
protect and promote animal welfare and public safety.

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