The House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would make certain types of animal cruelty a federal felony.
The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act bans extremely abusive acts of animal abuse, such as crushing, and continues the criminalization of making and distributing animal crush videos.
“This bill sends a clear message that our society does not accept cruelty against animals,” said Democrat Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida, who introduced the legislation with Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan, also of Florida.
WATCH: Cory Booker unleashes fiery call for ‘foot soldiers’ at Michigan Dem conference
Leaked memos reveal how Supreme Court steamrolled Obama climate plan in 2016 showdown
Trump Disputes His Energy Secretary’s Assessment of Gas Prices: ‘He’s Wrong on That’
Nancy Mace Calls for ‘Immediate’ Expulsion of Fellow House Republican: ‘The Worst Kind of Pond Scum’
Repeat offender released early from jail now charged with capital murder of pregnant woman
Trump and Johnson to hold Virginia tele-rally against Spanberger’s gerrymander
Who is Joseph diGenova Reagan-era prosecutor tapped to lead ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation
Mob of teens chases college student into campus dorm, unleashes violent attack as police hunt suspects
Eight children dead in Louisiana domestic violence killing spree: What to know
Texas AG Paxton sues Dem fundraising platform ActBlue, alleging ‘fraudulent and foreign donations’
Bernie-backed Dem’s pro-gun Clint Eastwood post, Kaepernick critique spurs apology in battleground race
Watch Patel on Bartiromo: ‘I Can Announce’ Arrests Are Coming in Stolen 2020 Election Case – ‘Stay Tuned This Week’
Trump Reveals JD Vance and His Negotiating Team ‘Heading Over’ for Second Round of Iran Talks
WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on ‘sanctuary’ policies
Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention
“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
WATCH: Cory Booker unleashes fiery call for ‘foot soldiers’ at Michigan Dem conference
Leaked memos reveal how Supreme Court steamrolled Obama climate plan in 2016 showdown
Trump Disputes His Energy Secretary’s Assessment of Gas Prices: ‘He’s Wrong on That’
Nancy Mace Calls for ‘Immediate’ Expulsion of Fellow House Republican: ‘The Worst Kind of Pond Scum’
Repeat offender released early from jail now charged with capital murder of pregnant woman
Trump and Johnson to hold Virginia tele-rally against Spanberger’s gerrymander
Who is Joseph diGenova Reagan-era prosecutor tapped to lead ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation
Mob of teens chases college student into campus dorm, unleashes violent attack as police hunt suspects
Eight children dead in Louisiana domestic violence killing spree: What to know
Texas AG Paxton sues Dem fundraising platform ActBlue, alleging ‘fraudulent and foreign donations’
Bernie-backed Dem’s pro-gun Clint Eastwood post, Kaepernick critique spurs apology in battleground race
Watch Patel on Bartiromo: ‘I Can Announce’ Arrests Are Coming in Stolen 2020 Election Case – ‘Stay Tuned This Week’
Trump Reveals JD Vance and His Negotiating Team ‘Heading Over’ for Second Round of Iran Talks
WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on ‘sanctuary’ policies
Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention
“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.
WATCH: Cory Booker unleashes fiery call for ‘foot soldiers’ at Michigan Dem conference
Leaked memos reveal how Supreme Court steamrolled Obama climate plan in 2016 showdown
Trump Disputes His Energy Secretary’s Assessment of Gas Prices: ‘He’s Wrong on That’
Nancy Mace Calls for ‘Immediate’ Expulsion of Fellow House Republican: ‘The Worst Kind of Pond Scum’
Repeat offender released early from jail now charged with capital murder of pregnant woman
Trump and Johnson to hold Virginia tele-rally against Spanberger’s gerrymander
Who is Joseph diGenova Reagan-era prosecutor tapped to lead ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation
Mob of teens chases college student into campus dorm, unleashes violent attack as police hunt suspects
Eight children dead in Louisiana domestic violence killing spree: What to know
Texas AG Paxton sues Dem fundraising platform ActBlue, alleging ‘fraudulent and foreign donations’
Bernie-backed Dem’s pro-gun Clint Eastwood post, Kaepernick critique spurs apology in battleground race
Watch Patel on Bartiromo: ‘I Can Announce’ Arrests Are Coming in Stolen 2020 Election Case – ‘Stay Tuned This Week’
Trump Reveals JD Vance and His Negotiating Team ‘Heading Over’ for Second Round of Iran Talks
WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on ‘sanctuary’ policies
Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention
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.
WATCH: Cory Booker unleashes fiery call for ‘foot soldiers’ at Michigan Dem conference
Leaked memos reveal how Supreme Court steamrolled Obama climate plan in 2016 showdown
Trump Disputes His Energy Secretary’s Assessment of Gas Prices: ‘He’s Wrong on That’
Nancy Mace Calls for ‘Immediate’ Expulsion of Fellow House Republican: ‘The Worst Kind of Pond Scum’
Repeat offender released early from jail now charged with capital murder of pregnant woman
Trump and Johnson to hold Virginia tele-rally against Spanberger’s gerrymander
Who is Joseph diGenova Reagan-era prosecutor tapped to lead ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation
Mob of teens chases college student into campus dorm, unleashes violent attack as police hunt suspects
Eight children dead in Louisiana domestic violence killing spree: What to know
Texas AG Paxton sues Dem fundraising platform ActBlue, alleging ‘fraudulent and foreign donations’
Bernie-backed Dem’s pro-gun Clint Eastwood post, Kaepernick critique spurs apology in battleground race
Watch Patel on Bartiromo: ‘I Can Announce’ Arrests Are Coming in Stolen 2020 Election Case – ‘Stay Tuned This Week’
Trump Reveals JD Vance and His Negotiating Team ‘Heading Over’ for Second Round of Iran Talks
WATCH: Houston faces $110M hit as Texas gov lays down law on ‘sanctuary’ policies
Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention
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.
