Sportsmen's and Animal
Owners' Voting Alliance
Dear SAOVA Friends,
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:
Club that have not joined the NO PAWS Honor Roll at http://saova.org/1139opponents.html
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 http://www.ncraoa.com/AR_VS_AW.html
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
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance -