Dear editor,

I write to thank U.S. Senate Committee Chairman Pat Roberts for his terrific work for mainstream animal welfare reforms in the recent Farm Bill that passed the Congress overwhelmingly. The Farm Bill contained three key provisions that will impact millions of animal lives: The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act that provides critical protections for pets of domestic violence victims and establishes a grant program to allow more shelters to accommodate pets; the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act that prevents dogs and cats from being slaughtered for human consumption in the U.S.; and the Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement (PACE) Act that restricts animal fighting in the U.S. Territories. I especially applaud Chairman Roberts’ tremendous efforts to ensure the PAWS Act provision was included in the bill. The final Farm Bill also jettisoned the dangerous King Amendment that would have upended many state agriculture and animal protection laws, and we are grateful it was removed. Chairman Roberts deserves credit for helping to get bipartisan legislation done that helps agriculture and advances animal welfare.

Marty Irby

Executive Director Animal Wellness Action

Washington, D.C.