Animal Welfare
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Representative Nancy Mace (D-SC) led a letter urging the U.S. Chief Postal Inspector to improve enforcement against the widespread transport of animals for illegal fighting purposes using the United States Postal Service. The letter was signed by 34 House Democrats and Republicans.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, questioned Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leadership about the safety and wellbeing of imported live animals, a problem that has dramatically escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, during a hearing on CBP's Resource Management and Operational Priorities. Quigley's questions came in light of an incident last year in which 20 dogs entered the U.S. on a flight from Jordan to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released a statement after receiving a letter from the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that failed to adequately address concerns about their Animal Welfare Act (AWA) enforcement. In April, Quigley led a letter to the USDA expressing alarm over the agency's lax monitoring and enforcement of animal welfare standards by animal dealers and exhibitors.
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), the lead House sponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1380), led a bipartisan group of members in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to express their concern with current enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The recent release of the Netflix series "Tiger King" has brought new public attention to unaccredited animal parks operating in violation of the standards outlined in the AWA.
Today, a legislative proposal introduced by U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), was the subject of a hearing held by the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. Quigley's legislation, H.R. 1380, The Big Cat Public Safety Act, would outlaw the private possession of big cats such as lions, tigers, panthers, and cheetahs, except at highly-qualified facilities that can safely and humanely care for the animals.