House Passes Bill Making Animal Cruelty a Federal Felony

“We’ve received support from so many Americans from across the country and across the political spectrum,” Deutch said, reported ABC News. “I’m deeply thankful for all of the advocates who helped us pass this bill, and I look forward to the Senate’s swift passage and the President’s signature.”

The U.S. House just passed the #PACT Act, legislation that I introduced with my colleague @RepTedDeutch to criminalize animal abuse. This important piece of legislation would make animal cruelty a federal offense. Great news for my fellow animal lovers! pic.twitter.com/fK4qAppXnK

— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) October 22, 2019

“The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Buchanan said as well. “Passing the PACT Act sends a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated.

The bill expands upon the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which initially criminalized the creation and distribution of animal crush videos.

The PACT Act would make it a federal crime for “any person to purposely engage in animal crushing in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.”

The legislation continues:

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly create an animal crush video, if—(A) the person intends or has reason to know that the animal crush video will be distributed in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce; or (B) the animal crush video is distributed in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce.

Violators would be subject to criminal penalties, including a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both.

The measure provides exceptions for unintentional killing of an animal as well as conduct or videos of “customary and normal veterinary, agricultural husbandry, or other animal management practice,” “the slaughter of animals for food,” and other practices such as hunting, trapping, fishing, predator or pest control, scientific research, protecting a person’s life or property, and euthanizing an animal.

In response to the legislation, pro-life organization March for Life Action tweeted the bill is “good news for animal lovers” and asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to “show the same respect and offer protections for unborn humans and those born alive after an abortion.”

This is good news for animal lovers @SpeakerPelosi

Can you show the same respect and offer protections for unborn humans and those born alive after an abortion? #LetThemVote #Endinfanticidehttps://t.co/kAacVReo1n

— March for Life Action (@MFLAction) October 23, 2019

House Republicans held a hearing in September on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that seeks to protect babies

born alive after abortion from infanticide.

---

Data Center Cash Cow Dries Up as States Pull the Rug on Big Tech

---

Charlie Kirk Memorial Smeared With Red Paint, Sign Defaced as TPUSA Vows to Work With Authorities to Find Vandals

---

DSA-backed candidates are winning primaries and their vision for America is very different

---

Trump touts White House renovations, says building was in ‘very bad condition’

---

Federal judge rules Trump admin plan to cut FEMA workforce in half is unlawful

---

Trump says China ‘spies’ on US after report ties Chinese imagery to Iran strike

---

California football coach arrested after students make disturbing discovery at school

---

Maryland dad blamed ‘Satan’ after 2-month-old daughter died from horrific head trauma

---

Creepy ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend targets schools as costumed figure allegedly chases teen girl

---

Missing 70-year-old hiker rescued after disappearing for a week in remote national park

---

Trump offers update on White House press secretary sweepstakes

---

Trump unloads on AOC, Mamdani for laughing during sacred 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero

---

GOP gov candidate recounts miracle water landing as dispatch audio reveals desperate search for sinking plane

---

Trump says Lindsay Clancy case is a ‘state situation’ following attorney’s pardon plea

---

Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint, Jesus crossed out days after 1-year mark of assassination

---

House Democrats have refused to take up the measure, H.R. 962, which states infants who survive abortion deserve the same treatment and care as any other newborn.

Pelosi and other Democrat leaders have blocked a vote on the bill more than 80 times.

70% of Dems agree: if a baby is born alive during an abortion attempt, they should be given medical care. @RepHaleyStevens, as a #ProLife Michigander, I call on you to sign the discharge petition to allow a vote on the Born Alive bill to #EndInfanticide!

— Debbie Goelman Smith (@48161debster) October 23, 2019

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (LA) and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) filed a discharge petition on the legislation in April that requires more Democrat signatures in order to bypass Pelosi and force a vote on the Born-Alive Act.

Story cited here.

Share this article:

Facebook

Twitter