Someone may find this useful. From the Humane Society of the United States...
Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Animal Fighting
WASHINGTON (March 15, 2007) – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill strengthening the nation's animal fighting laws. The bill toughens penalties for interstate and foreign dog fighting and ####fighting activities and outlaws the commerce in ####fighting weapons.
The committee approved S. 261, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), by voice vote. The Humane Society of the United States expressed its sincere thanks to Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) for their leadership in shepherding the bill through.
"Organized animal fighters are responsible not only for animal cruelty, but often narcotics traffic, illegal gambling, public corruption, and violence toward people," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "This bill toughens federal penalties for illegal animal fighting activities, and we are grateful to the Judiciary Committee for approving it. We hope the Senate and House take up the bill soon, and send it to the President for his signature."
The House version of the bill, H.R. 137 by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), cleared the House Judiciary Committee last month. The House Agriculture Committee waived jurisdiction, and both bills now await action by the full House and Senate. Lawmakers have expressed concern about the role of the worldwide trade in fighting birds in spreading bird flu.
Facts:
* S. 261 has 33 cosponsors, and its House companion, H. R. 137, has 303 cosponsors.
* More than 500 groups have endorsed the bills, including all major humane organizations, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Chicken Council, the National Sheriffs' Association, and more than 400 local law enforcement agencies covering all 50 states.
* The bill establishes a felony-level penalty of up to three years of jail time for any interstate or foreign transport of animals for fighting purposes. Currently, moving animals across state lines or national borders for the purpose of fighting them is a misdemeanor. The bill also makes it a crime to move ####fighting weapons in interstate or foreign commerce.
* Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states. ####fighting is illegal in 49 states, with Governor Bill Richardson on Monday signing a bill to ban ####fighting in New Mexico. Only Louisiana allows legal ####fighting.
* Lawmakers across the country are trying to strengthen anti-animal fighting laws; legislators in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas are considering bills.
* In April 2005, the Senate approved a nearly identical bill, but it died in the House when it was blocked by then-Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) although it had the bipartisan support of 324 cosponsors, which was more than any other pending bill in the 109th Congress.
Timeline:
March 1, 2007 – House Judiciary Committee files reports on H.R. 137 and House Agriculture Committee waives jurisdiction, preparing for floor action.
February 7, 2007 – House Judiciary Committee approves H.R. 137 by voice vote.
February 6, 2007 – House Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee holds hearing on H.R. 137.
January 11, 2007 – Senators Cantwell, Ensign, Specter, and Feinstein introduce S. 261 with 6 additional original cosponsors.
January 4, 2007 – Representatives Gallegly, Blumenauer, and Bartlett introduce H.R. 137.
December, 2006 – Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act dies as House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner blocks floor consideration, despite bipartisan support of 324 cosponsors (more than any other pending bill in the 109th Congress).
May 18, 2006 – House Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee holds hearing on H.R. 817.
April 29, 2005 – Senate approves S. 382 by unanimous voice vote.
September 30, 2004 – House Judiciary Committee approves H.R. 4264 by 18-8 vote.
October 30, 2003 – Senate unanimously approves S. 736 as amendment to Healthy Forests bill (H.R. 1904), but it is later removed in conference with House Agriculture Committee.
December 2001 – Senate unanimously approves identical felony animal fighting amendment offered by Sen. Allard during floor debate on Farm Bill, but it is later removed in conference with House Agriculture Committee.
October 2001 – House unanimously approves felony animal fighting amendment offered by Reps. Blumenauer and Tancredo during floor debate on Farm Bill.
Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Animal Fighting
WASHINGTON (March 15, 2007) – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill strengthening the nation's animal fighting laws. The bill toughens penalties for interstate and foreign dog fighting and ####fighting activities and outlaws the commerce in ####fighting weapons.
The committee approved S. 261, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), by voice vote. The Humane Society of the United States expressed its sincere thanks to Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) for their leadership in shepherding the bill through.
"Organized animal fighters are responsible not only for animal cruelty, but often narcotics traffic, illegal gambling, public corruption, and violence toward people," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "This bill toughens federal penalties for illegal animal fighting activities, and we are grateful to the Judiciary Committee for approving it. We hope the Senate and House take up the bill soon, and send it to the President for his signature."
The House version of the bill, H.R. 137 by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), cleared the House Judiciary Committee last month. The House Agriculture Committee waived jurisdiction, and both bills now await action by the full House and Senate. Lawmakers have expressed concern about the role of the worldwide trade in fighting birds in spreading bird flu.
Facts:
* S. 261 has 33 cosponsors, and its House companion, H. R. 137, has 303 cosponsors.
* More than 500 groups have endorsed the bills, including all major humane organizations, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Chicken Council, the National Sheriffs' Association, and more than 400 local law enforcement agencies covering all 50 states.
* The bill establishes a felony-level penalty of up to three years of jail time for any interstate or foreign transport of animals for fighting purposes. Currently, moving animals across state lines or national borders for the purpose of fighting them is a misdemeanor. The bill also makes it a crime to move ####fighting weapons in interstate or foreign commerce.
* Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states. ####fighting is illegal in 49 states, with Governor Bill Richardson on Monday signing a bill to ban ####fighting in New Mexico. Only Louisiana allows legal ####fighting.
* Lawmakers across the country are trying to strengthen anti-animal fighting laws; legislators in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas are considering bills.
* In April 2005, the Senate approved a nearly identical bill, but it died in the House when it was blocked by then-Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) although it had the bipartisan support of 324 cosponsors, which was more than any other pending bill in the 109th Congress.
Timeline:
March 1, 2007 – House Judiciary Committee files reports on H.R. 137 and House Agriculture Committee waives jurisdiction, preparing for floor action.
February 7, 2007 – House Judiciary Committee approves H.R. 137 by voice vote.
February 6, 2007 – House Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee holds hearing on H.R. 137.
January 11, 2007 – Senators Cantwell, Ensign, Specter, and Feinstein introduce S. 261 with 6 additional original cosponsors.
January 4, 2007 – Representatives Gallegly, Blumenauer, and Bartlett introduce H.R. 137.
December, 2006 – Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act dies as House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner blocks floor consideration, despite bipartisan support of 324 cosponsors (more than any other pending bill in the 109th Congress).
May 18, 2006 – House Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee holds hearing on H.R. 817.
April 29, 2005 – Senate approves S. 382 by unanimous voice vote.
September 30, 2004 – House Judiciary Committee approves H.R. 4264 by 18-8 vote.
October 30, 2003 – Senate unanimously approves S. 736 as amendment to Healthy Forests bill (H.R. 1904), but it is later removed in conference with House Agriculture Committee.
December 2001 – Senate unanimously approves identical felony animal fighting amendment offered by Sen. Allard during floor debate on Farm Bill, but it is later removed in conference with House Agriculture Committee.
October 2001 – House unanimously approves felony animal fighting amendment offered by Reps. Blumenauer and Tancredo during floor debate on Farm Bill.