On Tuesday, 12/11/18, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the 2018 Farm Bill with a vote of 87 to 13 — excluding the highly controversial Protect Interstate Commerce Act, or King Amendment.
The King Amendment, which was introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), would have threatened vital animal protection laws across the United States, impacting state bans on such things as eggs derived from battery-caged hens, the sale of foie gras, and the extreme confinement of farm animals.
The 2018 Farm Bill also includes another major win for the animals with its inclusion of three pro-animal measures:
The Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act – outlaws the slaughter and the import/export of dogs and cats in the U.S. for consumption.
The Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement (PACE) Act – clarifies the prohibition against cockfighting and dogfighting in U.S. territories.
The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act – extends current domestic violence protections to pets and authorizes grant money to help domestic violence shelters accommodate pets.
The 2018 Farm Bill will now go to the House for a final vote before being sent to the desk of the President to be signed into law.
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