URGENT: Contact Assembly on Bill to Ban Foie Gras (SB 1520)

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URGENT ACTION ALERT ON SB 1520

 

 

California Bill To Ban Force Feeding of Ducks and Geese Sales of Foie Gras Passes Senate

 

Letters Needed to Assembly Members by June 18

 

 

Senate Bill 1520 passed the California Senate by a vote of 21-14. It now goes to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. The bill, which bans the force feeding of ducks and geese in the production of foie gras, as well as sales of the product in California, is being carried by Senate President Pro-Tem John Burton at the request of AVAR, Farm Sanctuary, Viva!USA, and LA Lawyers for Animals. In order for the bill to pass out of the senate, it was amended to have a 7 ½-year phase out before the law goes into effect.

 

Foie gras (or fatty liver) is produced by using a pipe inserted into the esophagus of a duck or goose and force feeding excessive amounts of food several times daily. This practice intentionally causes their livers to swell to up to 10 times normal size. Some restaurants serve the fatty liver as an expensive food item.

 

Many countries, including Denmark, Norway, Poland, Germany, and Israel, ban the practice because it is considered cruel. In the United States, there are only two producers of foie gras, one in New York and one in California.

 

It is crucial that the Assembly hear from its constituents. Passing the bill out of the Senate was difficult. Please write a polite letter by June 18th to Assembly Member Lou Correa, Chair, Assembly Business and Professions Committee, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814 or fax: (916) 319-2169. Ask him to support SB 1520.Tell him that it is time to prohibit practices which involve animal cruelty, especially for gratuitous food items. If you have time, or are representing an organization, please also contact the other committee members listed below.

 

Also, please write a letter to your state assembly member. All assembly members can be mailed to c/o State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814. If you do not know who your state assembly member is: Call 916-322-9900. Or go to www.assembly.ca.gov <http://www.assembly.ca.gov/> to find your state assembly member and contact information.

 

For more information on the foie gras issue: contact AVAR at info or visit AVAR’s website: www.avar.org <http://www.avar.org/>

 

Assembly Business and Professions Committee Members

 

Assembly Member Lou Correa, Chair

Fax: (916) 319-2169

Email: Assemblymember.Correa

 

Assembly Member Shirley Horton, Vice Chair

Fax: (916) 319-2178

Email: Assemblymember.Shirley.Horton

 

Assembly Member Bill Maze

Fax: (916) 319-2134

Email: Assemblymember.Maze

 

Assembly Member Greg Aghazarian

Fax: (916) 319-2126

Email: Assemblymember.Aghazarian

 

Assembly Member Abel Maldonado

Fax: (916) 319-2133

Email: Assemblymember.maldonado

 

Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod

Fax: (916) 319-2161

Email: Assemblymember.McLeod

 

Assembly Member Juan Vargas

Fax: (916) 319-2179

Email: Assemblymember.Vargas

 

Assembly Member Mark Leno

Fax: (916) 319-2113

Email: Assemblymember.leno

 

Assembly Member Rudy Bermudez

Fax: (916) 319-2156

Email: Assemblymember.bermudez

 

Assembly Member Leland Yee

Fax: (916) 319-2112

Email: Assemblymember.yee

 

Assembly Member Joe Nation

Fax: (916) 319-2106

Email: Joe.Nation

 

Assembly Member Ellen Corbett

Fax: (916) 319-2118

Email: Assemblymember.Corbett

 

Assembly Member Paul Koretz

Fax: (916) 319-2142

Email: Assemblymember.Koretz

 

Pam Runquist of Companion Animal Issues

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights

PO Box 208

Davis, CA 95617-0208

Tel: (530) 759-8106

pam

 

 

 

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