WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) voted in support of the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act of 2019, H.R. 724, to criminalize certain acts of animal cruelty. The legislation unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday night, October 22.
In 2010, Congress passed the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which made the creation and distribution of animal crushing videos illegal. However, the underlying acts of cruelty against animals were not included. The PACT Act closes this loophole by prohibiting certain cases of animal abuse.
"Those who knowingly commit acts of animal cruelty must be subject to criminal penalty," said Congressman Panetta. "The bipartisan Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act is common-sense policy that provides law enforcement additional authorities to combat animal cruelty."
This legislation was brought to the House floor for debate and a vote by utilization of the new House “Consensus Calendar”. The initiative received priority consideration on the House floor by having more than 290 bipartisan cosponsors – a key new House rule the Problem Solvers Caucus, of which Congressman Panetta is a member, fought to implement this Congress. The bill had 302 bipartisan co-sponsors when it reached the floor.
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