Animal Rights Extremists
I'm happy to report that prospects look good for legislation I have put together to combat
animal rights terrorists. This issue directly affects those in agriculture, biomedical, and
biotechnology industries, as well as many university research institutions. Time is short before
the end of the current Congress, but I'm receiving support from necessary allies.
This May, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crimes, Terrorism and Homeland
Security held a hearing on my bill, H.R.4239, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. This
hearing highlighted the disturbing increase in the number and severity of crimes of violence and
intimidation animal rights extremists groups have been employing to disrupt the business of
anyone engaged in any enterprise that uses or sells animals or animal products.
At the hearing, a primate researcher from the University of Wisconsin - Madison
testified about the harassment and intimidation she has experienced. She has even considered
leaving the Parkinson's research field and fears others may do so in the current environment.
A representative from the drug discovery company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) also testified
that in the past 21 months, GSK has experienced over 150 animal rights extremists incidents
directed at its employees, board members, and others with only a tenuous connection to GSK.
To date, not one of these incidents has resulted in a criminal conviction, despite the
tireless efforts of law enforcement. Officials from the Department of Justice have testified at
three congressional hearings that animal rights extremists have recognized limits and ambiguities
in current federal law and have tailored their campaigns to exploit them.
H.R. 4239 amends current law to address the threats posed and violent acts committed by
groups such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty
(SHAC). The bill broadens the definition of an animal enterprise and provides penalties for
intentionally causing property damage or loss or for intentionally causing bodily harm or placing
a person in reasonable fear of death or bodily harm. It also specifically addresses the "tertiary
targeting" tactic employed by these extremists by prohibiting criminal acts against persons or
organizations with ties to an animal enterprise.
Enactment of this legislation would enhance the ability of law enforcement and the
Justice Department to protect law-abiding American citizens from violence and the threat of
violence posed by animal rights extremists.
Recent Major Votes
On July 24
- With my support and a vote of 358 to 4, the House approved S. 1496, a bill to require the Fish
and Wildlife Service to conduct a three-year pilot program in up to 15 states to issue electronic
versions of federal duck stamps, which are required for hunting waterfowl on federal lands.
- With my support and a vote of 323 to 39, the House approved S. 203, a bill to reduce royalties
on soda ash for five years, authorize funds for the federal government to assist California with
groundwater cleanup and authorize funds for national heritage areas.
- With my support and a vote of 355 to 9, the House approved H.R. 5534, a bill to direct fines
collected from violations of Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards into a new Energy
Department grant program intended to increase infrastructure to make alternative fuels more
widely available to consumers.
On July 25
- I was the floor manager for H. Con. Res. 145, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress in
support of a national bike month and in appreciation of cyclists and others for promoting bicycle
safety and the benefits of cycling. The House approved the resolution by voice vote.
- With my support and a vote of 414 to 2, the House approved H.R. 5852, a bill to establish a
new office of Emergency Communications in the Homeland Security Department to improve
interoperability of communications systems and equipment used by federal, state and local
governments and by personnel who serve as first responders in an emergency.
- With my support and a vote of 412 to 4, the House approved H.R. 4804, a bill to require the
Federal Housing Administration to insure 90 percent of an individual's loan for the purchase and
improvement of manufactured housing. It would also increase the loan limits for insuring a
manufactured home to $68,040 in 2008, and require that the limits be indexed for inflation
annually.
- With my support and a vote of 415 to 7, the House approved H.R. 5121, a bill to allow the
Federal Housing Administration to use risk-based pricing in determining a borrower's mortgage
insurance premium. It would expand the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loan insurance
program and raise loan limits for single-family loans.
- With my support and a vote of 322 to 99, the House approved H.R. 5013, a bill to prohibit the
confiscation of legally owned weapons during national emergencies or presidentially declared
disasters, unless expressly permitted by other federal, state or local laws.
On July 26
- With my support and a vote of 424 to 0, the House approved H.R. 5337, a bill to formally
establish the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) with the Treasury
secretary as chairperson and the Homeland Security secretary as vice chairperson. It would
require CFIUS to review all national-security-related business transactions.
- With my support and a vote of 410 to 15, the House approved H.R. 5319, a bill to require
schools and libraries applying for grants through the Universal Service Fund to certify that they
are enforcing a policy of Internet safety for minors, including protecting their computers against
access to visual depictions that are obscene, contain child pornography or are harmful to minors.
- With my support and a vote of 359 to 68, the House approved H.R. 5682, a bill to permit the
president to waive certain provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to seek congressional
approval for civilian nuclear cooperation agreements with India if the president makes certain
determinations, including that India would provide the United States and the International
Atomic Energy Agency with a plan to separate civilian and military nuclear facilities and
programs. The bill would require a joint resolution of approval by Congress for a nuclear
cooperation agreement with India to enforce the agreement.
On July 27
- With my support and a vote of 270 to 148, the House approved H.R. 4157, a bill to encourage
the expanded use of electronic medical records in doctors' offices and hospitals. It would expand
the number of codes used by insurers and health care providers in billing. It would authorize $15
million per year in fiscal 2007 and 2008 for a grant program to assist in improving health care for
the uninsured, underinsured and medically underserved through new or improved health
information technology.
On July 28
- With my support and a vote of 279 to 131, the House approved H.R. 4, a bill to establish a
new premium that employers who terminate their plans would have to pay the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation. It would change the formula for determining whether a pension plan is
fully funded, and require employers to meet a 100 percent funding target. Firms that administer
401(k) plans would be allowed to give investment advice to employees with respect to the firm's
own financial products, but it would have to be based on an independently certified computer
model. The President signed it into law in August.
- With my support and a vote of 230 to 180, the House approved H.R. 5970, a bill to raise the
minimum wage to $7.25 per hour by June 1, 2009. It would increase the amount of an estate that
is exempt from tax, index the amount for inflation, and reduce the tax rate on the portion of
inheritance that exceeds the exemption. The bill also would extend through 2007 a group of
expiring tax breaks, including the research and development credit, the tuition tax deduction for
higher education and the deduction for state and local sales taxes.
On September 7
- Despite my opposition and by a vote of 263 to 146, the House approved H.R. 503, a bill to
regulate agriculture to prohibit the transporting, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing,
selling, or donation of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption.
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