CONGRESS PASSES ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT BUT

[Omaha Steve]

Yesterday, we alerted you that the Animal Enterprise Terrorism
Act (AETA) was coming to the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives during the "lame duck" session. We wanted to
pass on to you the unfortunate news that the House passed the
AETA by voice vote under suspension of the rules, a procedure
usually reserved for non-controversial legislation. When the
bill came up for consideration, only a handful of House members
were even back in town, and very few were on the floor of the
House when discussion ensued.

The Humane Society of the United States has no tolerance for
individuals and groups who resort to intimidation, harassment,
vandalism, or violence supposedly in the name of animal
advocacy, and we have spoken out repeatedly against violence in
any form. The AETA, however, goes too far and may threaten
legitimate activities -- such as boycotts, investigations, and
whistle-blowing -- of law-abiding groups and individuals, and
that's why we opposed the bill.

The bill was rushed through without a serious look at its flaws
due to the stubbornness of Judiciary Committee chairman Jim
Sensenbrenner. Sensenbrenner has a series of mainstream,
pro-animal welfare bills before his committee and he refuses to
advance any of them -- including bills to ban canned hunts, to
stop Internet hunting, and to upgrade penalties for illegal
dogfighting and cockfighting. The Animal Fighting Prohibition
Enforcement Act (H.R. 817) has been cosponsored by
three-quarters of the entire House (324 cosponsors), while AETA
had just a fraction of that support. Sensenbrenner and other
Republican House leaders have no excuse for their failure to
allow a fair vote on the animal fighting bill this year, and
their misplaced priorities reflect a disregard for animal
welfare concerns.

Please call House Majority Leader John Boehner today at
202-225-6205. Tell him that the House needs to pass a modest,
popular, animal welfare bill, and that he needs to bring the
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act to the House floor
immediately. The Senate unanimously passed the animal fighting
bill 19 months ago, so it can be signed into law if the House
votes on it now.

Thank you so much for your continued support and action on
behalf of animals.

Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO, The Humane Society of the United States

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[keepCAblue]

1. See related thread, started yesterday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2708796

[Ian David]

2. We can fix this next session. I hope. n/t

[KRITER]

3. Protest for Animal Rights and Aganst Circuses

Protesting Ringling Brothers in Charlottesville Virginia Dec 7,8,9 and 10.protesters meeting Dec 7 at 5:30 at University Hall.
We needing as many folks as we can get.We handing out leaflets about Ringling Brothers treetment of animals and will be holding signs.The media is spose to come Thursday Dec 7.We hope to get our message out.If any yall want to come,make a pro animal rites sign,anti circus sign,anti Ringling Brothers sign. If yall wanting information on animal treetment in circuses go to the PETA site.We needing lots of people suporting this.Yall come.