The ASPCA has strongly condemned the animal-related provisions in the Farm Bill released by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, warning that it would have devastating effects on billions of animals. Key concerns include a provision that would overturn existing state and local farm animal welfare laws, undermining protections against cruel farming practices and harming higher-welfare farmers. Additionally, the bill weakens protections for dogs suffering in puppy mills by making it harder for the USDA to intervene and rescue animals in distress. The bill also fails to include bipartisan-supported measures to prohibit the slaughter of American horses, allowing tens of thousands to be exported for slaughter abroad.

The ASPCA urges Congress to reject the harmful language in the House bill and instead pass a Farm Bill that upholds state animal welfare laws, protects dogs in puppy mills, and ends horse slaughter. The organization highlights that the bill’s provisions would reverse years of progress toward humane treatment of animals, strain local resources for animal rescue, and betray public demand for cruelty-free farming. The ASPCA encourages the public to contact their representatives to advocate for a more humane and protective Farm Bill.