Purpose: Makes it a crime punishable by imprisonment to cause any business classified as an “animal enterprise” to suffer a loss of profit — even if the company’s financial decline is the result of legal activities, such as peaceful protests, consumer boycotts or media campaigns.
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Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Subcommittee Hearings held.
Action: OPPOSE. Please contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to oppose H.R. 4239. Tell your Representative that H.R. 4239 is vague, overly broad, and limits free speech activities.
Talking Points for your letter:
- H.R. 4239, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), would make it a crime punishable by imprisonment to cause any business classified as an “animal enterprise” to suffer a loss of profit — even if the company’s financial decline is the result of legal activities, such as peaceful protests, consumer boycotts or media campaigns. The term “animal enterprise” is defined very broadly to include manufacturers, distributors and sellers of animals or animal products. This includes research facilities, pet stores, breeders, zoos, rodeos, circuses, and animal shelters.
- AETA restricts animal advocacy activities by using a broad brush to paint advocates as “terrorists” simply because they oppose institutionalized animal cruelty. This legislation could apply to individuals or groups that strongly oppose acts of violence, including vandalism and property damage.
- AETA threatens to criminalize as “terrorism” otherwise lawful, constitutionally protected and valuable acts often utilized by citizens and organizations seeking societal change. For example, lawful and peaceful protests against the circus or companies that test on animals could be considered a violation of this act if the activity resulted in economic damage to the company.
- AETA does not genuinely fight terrorism. AETA may divert valuable taxpayer money and resources away from real terrorism.
- AETA is vague and overly broad. AETA isn’t just about illegal actions like breaking windows or rescuing animals from fur farms. It includes penalties for “non-violent physical obstruction” and actions that do not harm people or property. It could label civil disobedience, whistle-blowing, and undercover investigations as “terrorism” if they hurt corporate profits.
- AETA limits free speech. Labeling nonviolent actions as “terrorism” and prosecuting them as federal crimes will have a chilling effect on free speech. You shouldn’t have to be afraid of being labeled a “terrorist” simply for speaking up for animals.
- Corporate profits aren’t a national security priority. There are better ways to spend scarce anti-terrorism resources than protecting corporate interests and targeting animal advocates as “terrorists.”