I have a long history of support for legislation that protects animals from inhumane and unethical treatment.  I believe that we need to fully enforce the regulations passed in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and strengthen the laws that protect animals' rights.

Here are some examples of legislation that I have supported:

• I am a cosponsor of The Pet Safety and Protection Act, H.R. 1280, which would ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally.
• I voted in favor of The Captive Primate Safety Act, H.R. 2964 .  This bill would regulate the sale and transport of nonhuman primates like monkeys, great apes and lemurs.
• I also voted in favor of The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, H.R. 137.  This bill that would help close loopholes in federal animal fighting law and make it a felony to transport animals across state lines for fighting purposes.
• The Downed Animal Protection Act, H.R. 661 would protect ill or injured animals from inhumane treatment. I cosponsored this legislation.
• H.R. 249 would restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros.  I voted in favor of this legislation.
• I am also a cosponsor of The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, H.R. 503, which would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption.