Congressional Animal Welfare Caucus Reorganization Urged

October 12, 2007 - In a Sept. 26 letter addressed to Rep. John Salazar (Colo.), Rep. Steve King (Iowa), Rep. Nancy Boyda (Kan.) and Rep. Adrian Smith (Neb.), the Farm Animal Welfare Coalition (FAWC) requested that the Congressional Animal Welfare Caucus be formally reorganized and that the four representatives consider serving as bipartisan co-chairs.

The Congressional Animal Welfare Caucus was originally organized in the 1990s to provide a forum through which members of the House could discuss issues related to the welfare of animals husbanded on American farms and ranches, those legitimately used in the scientific pursuit of cures and treatments through biomedical research, as well as issues impacting animals used in education, exhibition and entertainment. Former co-chairs of the caucus include former Reps. Charlie Stenholm (Texas) and Vin Weber (Minn.) and sitting House members Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio).

"We see the caucus as a valuable tool in educating your colleagues as to the importance of animal wellbeing issues to FAWC members and their supporters. We are willing and able to work with you to hold briefings, create materials and provide a discussion forum on key policy issues which may come before you dealing with the wellbeing of animals," the coalition wrote in the letter.

Signators of the letter included the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, American Meat Institute, American Sheep Industry Association, American Veal Association, Animal Agriculture Alliance, Biotechnology Industry Organization, National Chicken Council, National Meat Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, United Egg Association and United Egg Producers.

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