Bill Description:
This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to publish reports of enforcement actions taken under the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act.[teaserbreak]
Background:
On February 3, 2017, without warning or explanation, the USDA deleted its online database of searchable enforcement reports. This online search tool provided compassionate citizens across the country, as well as journalists, lawyers, and nonprofit animal advocates, with vital information about animal cruelty in substandard roadside zoos, shameful animal circuses, puppy breeding factories, and more.
The thousands of deleted documents are the product of an enforcement system that is funded with taxpayer money, and therefore taxpayers have a right to access the information. S. 503/H.R. XX will ensure that the USDA cannot shield the worst animal exhibitors, breeders, and researchers from the public eye.
This bill follows several other actions already taken to put pressure on the agency. Two coalitions of organizations, including Born Free USA, have filed lawsuits to compel the USDA to reverse its policy and republish the enforcement documents. Furthermore, 101 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to President Trump demanding restoration of deleted animal welfare documents, and 18 senators sent a similar letter to the USDA’s acting deputy, Michael Young.
Read Senator Wyden’s press release here.
Take Action:
Use this form to write to your U.S. senators and representative and urge them to support this legislation!
Read the full text and follow its progress here for the Senate version and here for the House version.