ANIMALS

Joe Sestak fully supports and has diligently fought for measures that protect the dignity of animals and protects nature’s creatures.  We can and must protect our song and migratory birds, bats, and other threatened species. Animals, both domesticated and wild, are nature’s gift to humankind. They look to man for protection, and it would be a grave injustice to fall short in this duty.

Highlights of Joe Sestak’s Efforts to Protect animals

1. 100%  Score from the Humane Society
   

1. Supported continued funding for the multinational species conservation fund and funding for the proper enforcement of current animal welfare laws
   

1. Wrote letter to the Obama administration asking for cooperation with accredited zoos and aquariums in the areas of science education, threatened and endangered species recovery, veterinary medicine, and economic development.
   

1. Vote for the Restore Our American Mustangs Act
   

Amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to revise provisions concerning the management of such animals by encouraging expansion of dedicated range land and discontinuing slaughter practices.

1. Co-sponsored and voted for the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act
   

Expands marine turtle conservation assistance under the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 to include the United States and its territories; authorizes funding through Fiscal Year 2004 and an increase in the amount available from the Fund for administrative expenses.

1. Co-sponsored the National Link Awareness Month
   

Recognizes animal cruelty and society violence, national link awareness month.

1. Co-sponsored the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act
   

Reauthorizes the Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 through FY2014.

1. Co-sponsored and voted for the Crane Conservation Act of 2009
   

Assists in the conservation of cranes by supporting financial resources for the conservation programs.

1. Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection Act
   

Prohibits invasive research and the funding of such research both within and outside of the united states on great apes, prohibit the transport of great apes for purposes of invasive research, prohibit the breeding of great apes for purposes of invasive research, and will remove all remaining federally owned great apes to sanctuaries specifically created to house them in a manner consistent with high standards of lifetime care, social enrichment, and cognitive development.

1. Co-sponsored and voted for the Captive Primate Safety Act
   

Amends the Lacey Act amendments of 1981 to add nonhuman primates to the definition of “prohibited wildlife species” for purposes of prohibition against sale or purchase of such species in interstate or foreign commerce. 

1. Co-sponsored the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act
   

Increases the penalties and enhances enforcement of the migratory bird treaty to prevent the often senseless harming of migratory birds.

1. Co-sponsored the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009
   

Amends federal transportation law to prohibit a person from transporting a horse interstate in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels stacked and set forth civil penalties for violation.

1. Co-sponsored Legislation Negating Bush Administration Changes to Endangered Species Act
   

Reverses changes governing interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Prior to these changes, agencies were required to consult with experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service about the potential harm that an agency sponsored construction may have on the 1,353 threatened or endangered species in the United States.  Between 1998 and 2002, the Fish and Wildlife Service

performed 300,000 evaluations. Under the new rules, agencies make those decisions themselves. The rules also specify that agencies cannot consider the projects' contribution to global warming in their analyses.

1. Co-sponsored the Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act of 2009
   

Complements and enhances existing salmon conservation efforts with a new, incentive-based program to focus protection and restoration activities on the healthiest remaining salmon habitat – America’s salmon strongholds. The bill establishes a forum in which local communities could cooperate with seven federal agencies, five states, and numerous other entities with interests in wild salmon conservation; offered incentives to landowners for conservation actions and provided a mechanism for the prioritization of conservation projects that have the greatest impacts on long-term salmon habitat and population viability.

1. Co-sponsored the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act
   

Requires the Secretary of the Interior, to carry out a recovery and research program for southern sea otter populations along the coast of California.

1. Co-sponsored the Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2009
   

Amends the Fur Products Labeling Act to: (1) eliminate the exemption to fur labeling requirements for products containing relatively small amounts of fur; and (2) permit states to enforce more restrictive labeling requirements. It also directed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in the Fur Products Name Guide, to replace the term "Raccoon, Asiatic" with "Dog, Raccoon."

1. Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007
   

Establishes felony-level penalties for violations of the federal law on dog-fighting, cockfighting, and other animal fighting ventures; bans interstate and foreign commerce in cockfighting implements..

1. Voted for the 2008 Dept. of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations
   

Bars federal funding that permits the import of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada.

1. Co-sponsored and voted for the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008
   

Assists conservation programs that protects rare dog and cat species outside North America and Europe (e.g. jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs).

1. Vote for the Crane Conservation Act of 2008
   

Provides assistance to conservation programs aimed at helping imperiled crane populations in this country and around the world.

1. Voted for the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
   

Strengthens the federal law on animal fighting, prohibits importation of puppies under 6 months of age, and increases penalties for violations of the animal welfare act.

1. Co-sponsored and voted for the Captive Primate Safety Act
   

Prohibits interstate and foreign commerce in primates for the pet trade in order to protect public health and safety and prevent inhumane treatment and neglect of these animals.

Summary of Future Initiatives

Joe will fight to ensure funding for animal protection, proper enforcement of animal preservation and welfare laws, and preservation of critical habitats.

1. Funding for Animal Protection:
   

Provide adequate funding for enforcement activities of animal protection laws and habitat protection, especially for Endangered Species.

1. Improve Coordination between Federal Agencies on Animal Protection Issues:
   

Establish an executive office to better coordinate policy and regulations affecting animals across several different agencies.

1. Strengthen Animal Welfare Laws
   

1. Microchips, develop a national standard by pet microchip scanners to ensure they are affordable and effective in reuniting lost pets with their families.
   

1. Puppy Mills, require that large commercial breeders of puppies be licensed, regulated, and inspected and establish national standards for these breeders.
   

1. Pet food safety, establish mechanism for enforcement of U.S. standards in imported products for consumption by pets.
   

1. Preserve Habitats
   

1. Endangered Species listings: continue the science based system for making changes to species listings. Designate critical habitat for listed species.
   

1. Aerial Hunting: bar the shooting of wolves, bears, and other predators from aircraft except in limited cases where necessary for population health and control.