New Bill: Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty

US Reps. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., have introduced the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act to set a higher animal welfare standard for food purchased by the federal government.

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, praised the proposal and encouraged Congress to act swiftly to pass the bill.

The bill, H.R. 4733, simply requires that any food purchased for federal programs comes from animals raised with enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around and stretch their limbs, says the HSUS in a press release.

“Americans are increasingly demanding that we move away from abusive confinement in tiny cages on factory farms,” Rep. Watson said. “The federal government has a responsibility to help lead the way on this important issue, just as many of our nation’s largest companies are starting to do.”

“This bill requires meat producers who sell to the federal government to follow the same guidelines that California producers have in place to ensure the animals are raised humanely,” Rep. Gallegly said.

“We are grateful to Representatives Watson and Gallegly for introducing this important legislation, which would meaningfully improve the lives of millions of farm animals being raised for the federal government,” commented Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS. “Animals built to move should be allowed to move, and it’s the most basic of requirements that they shouldn’t be crammed into cages barely larger than their own bodies for virtually their entire lives.”

Source: HSUS