House Judiciary Chairman Blocks Bill Against Animal Fighting

Nov. 14, 2006 — -- As Congress returned for its lame-duck session this week, it found one piece of legislation that had overwhelming support. The Senate had already passed it unanimously. And it had 324 co-sponsors in the House, 155 Republicans and 169 Democrats. That was almost 75 percent of the House already on record in support of it. But the bill stood virtually no chance of becoming law.

The reason? One powerful committee chairman blocked it.

It is the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. It would increase penalties for interstate shipment of animals -- cocks and dogs -- so they can be pitted against each other in fights. Most states have already prohibited animal fighting. The new bill would make it a federal felony punishable by up to two years in prison.

The Judiciary Committee Chairman, James Sensenbrenner, has refused to move the bill to the House floor for a vote. In a written statement he said, "Animal fighting is an abhorrent practice but is best handled by those already working to combat its practice -- state and local officials."

The chairman said both Congress and the FBI have better things to do with their time than " ... worrying about breaking up a cockfight that could be handled by local law enforcement."

Sensenbrenner is a Wisconsin Republican. So is Rep. Mark Green, who introduced the bill. It also has the backing of the Wisconsin Sheriff's and Deputy Sheriffs' Association.

Nationwide, it has support from the National Sheriffs' Association, the National Chicken Council, American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society, said "Animal fighting is a cruel and barbaric practice. Dogs and roosters are drugged to make them hyperaggressive and forced to keep fighting even after suffering severe injuries such as punctured eyes and pierced lungs."

According to Pacelle, there are more than 100,000 active animal fighters in the United States, though there is no independent verification of that. The Humane Society and other opponents of animal fighting said it's done for both gambling and entertainment, and that children are often present. Supporters of the bill say state and local laws are too often not enforced, and that only the federal government can stop the practice.