Roskam stands up for animal rights
Roskam stands up for animal rights
The Humane Society of the United States expresses its thanks to Congressman Peter Roskam for co-sponsoring bills to crack down on illegal dogfighting and cockfighting and to prevent the slaughter of American horses for food exports.
Rep. Roskam has co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, HR 2492, which would strengthen the federal law against dogfighting and cockfighting by making it a crime to attend or take a child to an animal fight. Illinois and 48 other states already penalize animal fighting spectators, but there is a gap in the federal law which does not address this problem. Most dogfighting and cockfighting raids are multistate and multijurisdictional operations, and law enforcement needs a comprehensive set of tools to address the problem. Spectators finance animal fights with their admission fees and gambling wagers, and they provide cover to animal fighters who blend into the crowd during a law enforcement raid.
He has also co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, HR 2966, which would stop the export of American horses over our borders to Canada and Mexico where they are slaughtered for human consumption. Americans don’t eat horses and don’t want them butchered, shrink-wrapped, and sent to Japan or Belgium as a high-priced appetizer.
Animal welfare supporters are grateful to Rep. Roskam for fighting against animal cruelty and standing up for the values of kindness and compassion.
Kristen Strawbridge
Illinois State Director
The Humane Society of the United States