[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8153-H8155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        URGING ALL NATIONS TO OUTLAW THE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 401) urging China, South Korea, 
Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India, 
and all nations to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade and to enforce 
existing laws against the trade, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 401

       Whereas the consumption of dog meat has occurred in every 
     corner of the world including in Asia;
       Whereas established dog meat markets still exist in Asia;
       Whereas the Humane Society International, Animals Asia 
     Foundation, and others estimate that 30,000,000 dogs and 
     10,000,000 cats die annually across Asia for the trade in dog 
     and cat meat;
       Whereas it is estimated as many as 200,000 live dogs are 
     trafficked each year from Thailand across the Mekong River to 
     Vietnam, where dog meat is considered a delicacy;
       Whereas cat meat, known locally as ``little tiger'', is 
     also a delicacy in Vietnam and, although officially banned, 
     is widely available in specialty restaurants;
       Whereas due to a traditional belief that high adrenaline 
     levels produce tender meat and increase supposed health 
     benefits, dogs killed for their meat may be first 
     intentionally subjected to extreme fear and suffering through 
     hanging or bludgeoning;
       Whereas there appears to be little scientific evidence to 
     support traditional claims of the health benefits of 
     consuming dog meat;
       Whereas there have been reports of abuse, poor living 
     conditions, and cruel slaughtering techniques with respect to 
     dogs and cats farmed for their meat;
       Whereas many dogs and cats die during transport to 
     slaughterhouses, after days or weeks crammed into small cages 
     on the back of vehicles without food or water, and others 
     suffer from illness or injury during such transport;
       Whereas in February 2015, Vietnamese authorities impounded 
     a truck in Hanoi smuggling three tons of live cats from China 
     that were intended for the illegal cat meat trade, but then 
     buried thousands of the seized cats--many, reportedly, while 
     alive--claiming a desire to avoid the spread of disease;
       Whereas the extreme suffering of dogs and cats at such 
     slaughterhouses and on such transportation trucks would 
     breach anti-cruelty laws in the United States, such as the 
     Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) and the Humane 
     Methods of Slaughter Act (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.);
       Whereas many government officials, civil society advocates, 
     and activists are working to end the dog and cat meat trade 
     on anti-cruelty and public health grounds, and the 
     governments of Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have passed 
     laws banning the slaughter of dogs for meat consumption;
       Whereas Chinese activists have claimed that stolen pets are 
     sometimes used in the dog meat market in China;
       Whereas Chinese dog transporters reportedly routinely flout 
     regulations such as the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture 
     Veterinary Bureau Circular No. 16 (2013), which requires dogs 
     to be quarantined and issued a quarantine certificate before 
     being transported across provincial boundaries;
       Whereas the World Health Organization has linked the dog 
     meat industry to human outbreaks of trichinellosis, cholera, 
     and rabies, although consumption of dog meat alone has not 
     been confirmed to spread rabies to humans;
       Whereas those involved in the dog meat industry are at an 
     increased health risk for zoonotic diseases, which can 
     transfer from dogs to humans through infectious material such 
     as saliva;
       Whereas the spread of such diseases may be exacerbated by 
     unsanitary conditions of slaughter and by the sale of dog 
     meat at open-air markets and restaurants; and
       Whereas Betsy Miranda, Asia Coordinator for the Global 
     Alliance for Rabies Control, said in June 2013 that the 
     spread of disease through the dog meat trade was ``rampant'' 
     across Southeast Asia, and that ``The risk that the animals 
     are in poor health and not vaccinated is very high. If they 
     move across borders they risk carrying the disease across 
     large distances'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) calls for an end to the dog and cat meat trade on 
     cruelty and public health grounds;
       (2) urges all nations to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade 
     and enforce existing laws against such trade; and
       (3) affirms the commitment of the United States to the 
     protection of animals and to advancing the progress of animal 
     protection around the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Hastings for authoring this 
important measure on the dog and cat meat trade. It is an important 
issue to animal

[[Page H8154]]

lovers around this globe, and this resolution has garnered tremendous 
bipartisan support. He has over 100 cosponsors in this Congress for it.
  Protecting the world's animals, whether we are talking about dogs and 
cats or rhinoceros and elephant, it is not a partisan issue; and I am 
proud to have authored a number of critical pieces of legislation to 
advance this cause, including the END Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016.
  Mr. Speaker, in recent years, we have made some important progress 
toward stopping the consumption of dog meat around the world. But, 
sadly, dog meat markets still exist in Asia.
  In fact, it is estimated that 30 million dogs and 10 million cats die 
annually across Asia as a result of the dog and cat meat trade, and 
they often live under horrendous conditions.
  And this practice--I would make one other point--it also raises 
serious public health concerns. The World Health Organization has 
linked the dog meat industry to human outbreaks of multiple serious 
diseases, including cholera, and including rabies. The spread of 
disease is made worse by all aspects of the trade, from the unsanitary 
conditions of slaughter, and the sale of dog meat in open-air markets 
and restaurants, and from that, to the trafficking of these animals 
across international borders.
  This important resolution urges all nations to abolish the dog and 
cat meat trade, to enforce existing laws against such trade, and to 
affirm the U.S. commitment to protecting animals, both here at home and 
around the world.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I too rise in support of this measure.
  Let me, first of all, thank my friend from Florida, Mr. Hastings, for 
his work on this resolution, and thank Chairman Royce for moving it 
forward.
  This is one of those issues that certainly stirs the emotions of 
anyone who learns about it. The horrible abuse of dogs and cats crammed 
into cages, driven across borders, slaughtered and sold in meat 
markets, it just seems so cruel and needless.
  The animal rights community has come together around this issue, 
pleading for an end to these inhumane practices, particularly in the 
markets in Asia where this takes place the most.
  There are broader concerns as well. The trade of dog and cat meat is 
associated with health risks, including the spread of disease. And an 
illegal market for this meat has sprung up in places where governments 
have failed to step in and enforce their own laws against these 
practices.
  So I think it is important that the House go on record saying we 
oppose this practice. I am glad to support this measure, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the esteemed gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Hastings).
  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding, 
and I thank my good friend, the chairman of this committee, for 
bringing this forward.
  I rise in support of this measure, urging all nations to outlaw the 
inhumane dog and cat meat trade, and to enforce existing laws against 
this barbaric practice.
  In June of 2017, I introduced this measure with my distinguished 
colleague and cochairman of the Florida delegation, Congressman Vern 
Buchanan.
  It is estimated that tens of millions of dogs and cats are killed for 
human consumption annually across the globe. This display of animal 
cruelty is not only inhumane, but also a threat to public health for 
citizens and international visitors.
  This resolution affirms the United States' commitment to the 
protection of animals, and advances the animal protection movement 
rapidly growing worldwide.
  These innocent animals, often personal pets, are forcibly taken, 
shoved into cages with broken bones, then shipped long distances, 
without food or water, to meat markets, where they are regularly 
bludgeoned, mutilated, boiled, or skinned while still alive.
  When I was a child, I had three big dogs, True Boy, August, and 
Tuesday. And in their memory, I am sure that they would be equally 
proud that their owner was standing up for descendants of theirs and 
others.
  By passing H. Res. 401, Congress can bring the world one step closer 
to hopefully ending this cruel practice once and for all.
  Mr. Speaker, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the 
thousands of activists across the country and around the globe for 
their tireless efforts. They have never wavered in their commitment in 
the fight against the global dog and cat meat trade.
  It is my sincere hope that we expeditiously pass this measure. By 
doing so, we will send a strong message, that no matter where you live, 
animal cruelty is simply wrong.
  A special thanks to Lisa Vanderpump, and Ken Todd, and Dr. John 
Sessa, all of them being my friends, and certainly, Marc Ching, who has 
personally witnessed many of these things in Yulin and elsewhere, that 
brought my attention to this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this resolution.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time to close.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Titus), a cosponsor of this bill, and a valuable member of 
the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, and also to my friend 
from Florida who sponsored this legislation.
  I too rise in support of H. Res. 401. It is a resolution urging 
countries around the world to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade, and to 
recommit to enforcing existing laws against this horrible practice.
  As you have heard, approximately 30 million dogs and tens of millions 
of cats are killed annually for human consumption; and many suffer from 
abuse and cruelty during their lifetime, facing painful deaths at the 
hands of these horrible meat dealers. We cannot afford to turn a blind 
eye to the extreme torment that they have to endure.
  In the United States, we cherish dogs and cats, recognizing their 
many contributions as service and therapy animals, search and rescue 
assistants, and police dogs that aid with drug and bomb searches.

                              {time}  1815

  They provide airport security, are companions to our veterans, and 
are cherished family pets.
  As a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I am a 
proud cosponsor of this legislation, which enjoyed the support of 150 
bipartisan cosponsors and passed the committee by a voice vote. I have 
worked hard in Congress to end the dog and cat meat trade, eliminate 
the use of dog leather, and protect our furry and feathered friends 
from undue harm and abuse.
  Hundreds of constituents have written us about this issue, and they 
want the United States to speak up and set an example. Mr. Speaker, I 
believe this resolution does just that. I thank those who are 
responsible for bringing it, those who have lent their voice in support 
of it, and I look forward to seeing it pass today.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, let me say in closing, I am, again, grateful 
to Mr. Hastings and to all the people who have helped elevate this 
issue. Actually, I have gotten many calls from people who are very, 
very concerned about this bill and who want to see it passed.
  I have been a dog lover all my life, had the wonderful time to have 
dogs, and to me, it is just unfathomable that they are suffering like 
this in the trade to eat dogs and cats. It is really just something 
that is awful.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this measure. It is a bipartisan 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Hastings 
again for this legislation and for championing his support for the 
protection of dogs and cats around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duncan of South Carolina). The question 
is on the motion offered by the

[[Page H8155]]

gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 401, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Resolution 
urging all nations to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade and to enforce 
existing laws against such trade.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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