"I have long been an advocate of efforts to address the ethical and humane treatment of animals. I support the mission of the Animal Welfare Act, which prevents pets from being stolen and sold to research laboratories and improves the treatment and well-being of animals intended for research."
Priorities
Senator Akaka is deeply committed to the principle that animals, birds, and marine life not be subjected to cruelty, irrespective of whether they are intended for food, research, sport, recreation, or companionship. Senator Akaka continues to look for opportunities to strengthen animal welfare laws, and to protect and preserve endangered and threatened species and their habitats.
He has developed legislation that will ensure that non-ambulatory animals in the livestock industry are humanely euthanized and removed from the food supply chain. He has also be developed legislation that would ensure that cats and dogs sold to research facilities are obtained through legally-licensed sources rather than from unscrupulous individuals engaged in animal trade commerce.
Recent Accomplishments and Activities
In March 2010, the Humane Society of the United States, which has more than 49,000 supporters in Hawaii, presented Senator Akaka with its Humane Champion Award for his leadership on animal protection legislation.
In the 111th Congress, he introduced S. 1834, the Pet Safety and Protection Act, which would ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. This legislation would make it more difficult for unscrupulous individuals to engage in animal trade commerce. Under the measure, penalties would increase to a minimum of $1,000 per violation, in addition to any other existing penalties.
Senator Akaka also introduced S. 4007, the Downed Animal Protection Act in the 111th Congress to protect human health and shield the U.S. livestock industry from economic distress by setting uniform nationwide standards to euthanize downed animals and remove them from the processing line for animal products consumed by humans. Non-ambulatory livestock or downed animals, many of which have infectious diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also referred to as the mad cow disease, pose significant threats to the health and safety of consumers. Many of the recommendations included in the Downed Animal Protection Act were implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after cattle in the United States tested positively for BSE. Senator Akaka is committed to the expansion and codification of these regulations.
Additionally, he was a cosponsor of S. 727, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009, and S. 1076, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2009.
