“Thank you SAOVA."

(See (#) Handy Links at end of article)

The 109th Congress finally ended early Saturday morning, December 9, 2006. This year's lame duck session was a light one legislatively, beyond passing the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), confirming Robert Gates as Defense Secretary and again extending government spending bill resolutions, this time into 2007. This limited result was expected. Fifty-three (53) new House members and ten (10) new senators went through orientation sessions, while the 472 incumbents jockeyed for position in the 110th Congress and frequently new offices. With a new party in control of both chambers, committee staff changes will be significant.

AETA's passage was milestone achievement and represents the culmination of years of effort by the medical research and agricultural communities. Equally noteworthy were the failures of several hard-fought, high-profile animal rightist supported bills, including the Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005 (PAWS) S1139/HR2669 and the Horse Slaughter Ban S1915/HR503. SAOVA, with your help, took a leadership role in opposing these last two bills, but these struggles will continue as both measures will be reintroduced next year.

Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) staff has indicated to the American Kennel Club (AKC) that he intends to introduce a version of PAWS early next session and the AKC, HSUS, DDAL are expected to pursue that anti-pet home breeding, anti-competitive registry measure again. Also of concern to pet owners is a bill or USDA rulemaking to require dog breeders to microchip their animals and perhaps add owner/dog information to a national database.

ACTION Items:

Clubs that have not joined the (#1) NO PAWS Honor Roll please do so ASAP. We need to be united in our fight against PAWS and the greater the documented opposition, the more difficult it will be for the anti's to generate 2007 support for such anti-breeder measures.

Further, most of the sixty-three (63) new federal legislators have a limited understanding of the difference between animal welfare and animal rights. They're also likely to believe the propaganda spewing from the Humane Society of the U.S. and its allies, unless they hear the truth from their constituents. During the Holidays, please drop your new representative a greeting card. Wish s/he well in the 110th Congress and enclose materials such as those found at (#2) NCRAOA. Most election websites are still operational and contain the necessary contact information. Extend yourself. Offer to be a information resource for your current and new legislators.

Thank you for your moral and material support this past year. Best wishes for a Joyous and Blessed Christmas and Hanukkah.
 

Sincerely,
Bob Kane