Senate Approves Farm Bill, Blocking Controversial King Amendment

The U.S. Senate passed the Farm Bill by a vote of 87 to 13, a significant victory for animalwelfare advocates. Crucially, the legislation successfully blocked the “King amendment,” a measure that threatened to invalidate state and local laws protecting animals.

Key Animal Protection Measures Included

The approved Farm Bill incorporates three key animal protection measures championed by humane advocates. These include the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which will expand domestic violence protections to include pets and provide funding for shelters to accommodate them. Additionally, the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act has been added, aiming to prevent the trade of dog and cat meat within the United States and bolster international efforts to end it.

Opposition to the King Amendment

The King amendment, spearheaded by Representative Steve King (R-Iowa), posed a serious threat to animal protection efforts nationwide. It sought to nullify state and local laws addressing issues such as horse and dog meat consumption, horse slaughter, extreme animal confinement, shark finning, and puppy mill practices. The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund mobilized a coalition of over 225 groups across the political spectrum to oppose the amendment.

Next Steps

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Farm Bill later this week. Further updates will be provided on the blog as the legislation progresses.