HSUS Asks Congress To Modify Homeland Security Proposal To Safeguard Animal Welfare

6/20/2002

From: Rachel Querry of the Humane Society of the United States, 301-258-8255

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- Today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, called on Congress not to move responsibility for enforcement of animal protection programs to the soon-to-be-created Department of Homeland Security.

"The Humane Society of the United States does not in any way oppose the larger effort to consolidate security functions within a newly constituted department focused on homeland security," states Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of The HSUS. "We believe, however, that transferring animal welfare programs to the Department of Homeland Security is an obvious misfit and would relegate important programs to the margins of a department focused on matters entirely unrelated to the well-being of animals."

Under the Administration's proposal, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) would move from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Department of Homeland Security. This agency of USDA is responsible for inspecting agriculture imports and detecting diseases on the farm. Among its other charges is responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, the nation's only federal law mandating humane treatment of animals used in various commercial enterprises such as zoos, circuses, puppy mills, commercial airlines, and animal research facilities. APHIS is responsible for inspections to ensure minimal humane safeguards at approximately 10,000 such facilities across the country.

The USDA, through its Food Safety Inspection Service, also is charged with enforcing the Humane Slaughter Act, which mandates that livestock be rendered insensible to pain before they are killed.

With urging from The HSUS, Congress recently boosted funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, which has historically been poor. Last year, Congress approved a $5.15 million increase in funding for the Animal Welfare Act and $1 million for Humane Slaughter Act enforcement. A group of 39 Senators and 131 Representatives sent letters this year to the leaders of the Appropriations Committee seeking an additional $4.1 million in funding for AWA and HSA enforcement for Fiscal Year 2003. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) has been a leader in the effort to secure more funding for both programs, along with Senators Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Christopher Smith (R-N.J.).

"It is already difficult enough to get the USDA to adequately enforce existing animal protection laws. Moving these programs to the Department of Homeland Security would marginalize them even further," adds Pacelle.

The HSUS envisions a department within USDA whose sole focus would be animal welfare. This agency would combine existing resources and would include inspections and enforcement efforts. Humane Slaughter Act enforcement could potentially move from the Food Safety Inspection Service, where it has been routinely ignored under the new system of food inspections.

"This historic reorganization of the federal government provides an opportunity to give long-neglected functions new attention and accountability," said Pacelle. "The Humane Society of the United States urges Congress to carefully review the President's proposal. We believe that the Department of Homeland Security should be free to concentrate on its core mission without taking on ancillary yet vitally important responsibilities such as enforcing the Animal Welfare Act."