"Public opinion surveys demonstrate time and time again that Americans care about the humane treatment of animals, and that sentiment is being translated into policy with several major animal protection provisions in the Farm Bill," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS senior vice president.

Animal Fighting - Championed by Senators Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), this provision combats cockfighting and dog fighting. The language closes a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) that had been in place since 1976 and bars any interstate shipment of birds for fighting and any export of fighting dogs or birds. The provision also increases penalties for animal fighting violations, doubling current jail time and tripling fines. The House approved identical language in its version of the Farm Bill.

Puppy Mills - Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced this amendment that will combat some acute abuses in the puppy mill industry. The amendment - which is based on S. 1478, known as the Puppy Protection Act - creates a "three strikes and you're out" system for the worst offenders who repeatedly violate the Animal Welfare Act. The amendment limits the number of litters for breeding females, to give these dogs time to recover between litters, and mandates that female dogs be at least one year old before they are bred. It also requires that dogs be adequately socialized with other dogs and with people to enhance the dogs' well-being and to help prevent behavior problems in the future. Representatives Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 3058, which has 135 cosponsors. The House-passed version of the Farm bill, H.R. 2646, does not contain the puppy mill provision.

Downed Farm Animals - The Farm Bill also includes language that addresses humane and public health concerns about non-ambulatory farm animals. This provision, championed by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI), mandates humane euthanasia of animals too weak from sickness or injury to stand or walk at stockyards, auctions, and other intermediate livestock markets. The legislation would prevent ill or injured animals from being sent to slaughter, thereby reducing animal suffering and food safety risks. Currently, federal law does not bar the inhumane movement of downed animals dragged with chains or pushed with forklifts or bulldozers. In its Farm Bill, the House approved almost identical language in a floor amendment offered by Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Amo Houghton (R-NY).

Bear Protection Act - The Senate also passed, as an amendment to the Farm Bill, the Bear Protection Act (BPA), introduced in the 107th Congress as S. 1125 by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The BPA would ban the import, export and interstate commerce of bear gall bladders, bile and other viscera, which are used in traditional Asian medicine. The trade in bear parts drives the illegal killing of bears throughout North America, and the BPA will provide law enforcement with an additional tool to crack down on the parts trade. The House Farm bill contains no language related to bears, but the House companion bill, S. 397, introduced by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), has 186 cosponsors.

Humane Slaughter Act - The Senate approved a resolution calling on the USDA to enforce the Humane Slaughter Act, originally passed in 1958. The House passed a similar resolution during consideration of its version of the Farm bill. Media reports had documented that still-conscious animals were being skinned and dismembered in slaughterhouse lines, which move animals at such high speeds that slaughterhouse workers have great difficulty killing the animals humanely.

Birds, Rats and Mice in Research - The Senate accepted an amendment introduced by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) to bar USDA from including mice, rats and birds under the AWA. These animals, who make up 95 percent of animals used in research, had been arbitrarily denied AWA coverage by the USDA. A settlement agreement reached in 2000 with animal protection groups that had sued the agency paved the way for mice, rats and birds to be covered under this federal law. The House version of the Farm Bill does not include this provision and The HSUS will urge conference committee members to drop this controversial provision that affects the lives of millions of animals.

"The Humane Society of the United States praises the U.S. Senate and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders Tom Harkin and Richard Lugar for their efforts to end some of the worst abuses of animals," said Pacelle. "While the exclusion of birds, rats, and mice from basic animal welfare protection is unacceptable, we are pleased by the extraordinary progress made on other fronts, and we will fight for these provisions during the House-Senate conference committee."

Rachel Querry: (301) 258-8255