Humane USA Endorses John Kerry

[Guest guest]

http://www.animalrights.net/archives/year/2004/000356.html

 

By Brian Carnell

 

Monday, September 6, 2004

 

Humane USA recently endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president in

the upcoming U.S. election. According to its web site, Humane USA is

a political action committee formed by leaders of animal rights

groups including The Humane Society of the United States, The Fund

for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, ASPCA, Doris Day Animal League, Animal

Welfare Institute, The Ark Trust, Animal Rights Foundation of

Florida.

 

In a press release announcing its endorsement, Humane USA said,

 

 

Kerry was the co-author with former Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) of the

successful effort to halt an annual $2 million subsidy for the mink

industry – terminating a taxpayer give-away to the corporate mink

industry. Kerry and Smith shepherded this amendment through the

Senate during debate on the Fiscal Year 1995 Agriculture

Appropriations Act, and they have repelled subsequent efforts by

legislators aligned with the mink industry to revive the taxpayer

boondoggle.

Kerry has a notable record of co-sponsoring animal friendly

legislation, including support of measures to combat cockfighting,

bear baiting, canned hunts, puppy mills, the bear parts trade, the

exotic pet trade, steel-jawed leghold traps, and the abuse

of " downed " livestock.

Kerry has also exerted leadership in securing important funds for

animal protection. In recent years, he and Senator Rick Santorum (R-

PA) co-authored letters sent to the leaders of the Senate

Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations to increase funding for

existing animal protection laws, including the Animal Welfare Act

and the Humane Slaughter Act. Thanks in part to Kerry's leadership –

and his collaboration with the powerful senior member of the

Appropriations Committee, Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) – the Congress has

provided more than $26 million in new funds for animal protection

programs in recent years.

The President of the United States has a major impact on public

policies that affect the lives of animals. The Animal Welfare Act,

Humane Slaughter Act, Horse Protection Act, and a long list of other

federal laws need proper enforcement if their original purposes are

to be fulfilled. The president also shapes how Congress views new

legislative proposals to protect animals from cruelty and abuse. We

need John Kerry – not George W. Bush – in the White House.

 

 

Interestingly, as Humane USA points out, the Bush campaign's web

site also highlights the support Kerry has received from animal

rights groups the Humane Society of the United States and the Fund

for Animals,

 

 

John Kerry has the highest rating on the Humane Scorecard sponsored

jointly by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the

Fund for Animals. Both groups are firmly committed to ending hunting

in this country.

 

HSUS' website says " sport hunting – the killing of wild animals as

recreation – is fundamentally at odds with the values of a humane,

just and caring society " (emphasis added). (www.hsus.org/ace/12035;

viewed 7/5/04).

Heidi Prescott, the National Director of the Fund for Animals, said

in a 1995 speech that the Fund for Animals is " unalterably opposed

to the killing of animals for sport " (emphasis added). (Speech by

Heidi Prescott to the 4th Annual Governors Symposium on North

America's Hunting Heritage, August 1995)

 

Sources:

 

Humane USA Endorses John Kerry for President. Press Release, Humane

USA, Undated.

 

John Kerry on Hunting. Press Release, GeorgWBush.com, July 10, 2004.