November 1, 2019
By Marty Irby
This week, the U.S. Senate passed a multi-agency spending bill, including funding for the Agriculture, Interior, Justice, and Transportation Departments. At Animal Wellness Action, we had some major victories, but the Senate funded a proposal by two leading animal welfare groups that would translate into mass roundups of wild horses and burros, perhaps more than 20,000 per year removed from the range.
Here’s the breakdown:
Department of Justice language to further prosecution of animal cruelty crimes:
U.S. Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) led an amendment to the package with language that reflects a move toward enhanced enforcement of federal criminal animal welfare laws, including the Animal Fighting Law, Horse Protection Act, and Crush Video law. It requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide a report detailing enforcement activities of these laws and assesses any barriers to enhanced enforcement.
This move complements language adopted by the Senate in September directing DOJ to make enforcement of federal animal welfare laws a priority. It thereby promotes enforcement of the Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement (PACE) Act that Animal Wellness Action secured in the 2018 Farm Bill, which stipulates that dogfighting and cockfighting are banned everywhere in the United States, including the U.S. territories. The House bill included similar language and also $2 million in dedicated funding for the DOJ to create animal crimes unit to enforce these laws.
Providing funding for the new Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act:
U.S. Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) led an amendment that allocates $3 million for a new grant program Animal Wellness Action also secured in the 2018 Farm Bill, based on the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which was led by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), to help provide relief for domestic violence survivors and their companion animals. The program would allow more domestic violence shelters to provide accommodations for pets. Ensuring that families are kept safe together.
Preventing slaughter of our iconic American equines:
Numerous lawmakers led the fight to secure a provision barring USDA from spending tax dollars on horse slaughter inspections for the fiscal year of 2020, a provision that’s been in place nearly every year for more than a decade. This is a much-needed provision until the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act can be passed, which would permanently end the slaughter of American horses across the continent. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) championed this provision in the Senate.
Prohibiting Class B dog and cat dealers:
Renews the ban on use of funds by USDA to license Class B dealers, notorious for trafficking in dogs and cats attained from fraudulent means that includes pet theft, animal research and testing. The House passed funding legislation included this provision as well.
Dangerous down payment on mass wild horse and burro roundup and removals:
The Senate Interior spending provisions included a shocking $35 million down payment (the House bill only provided $6 million in comparison) on a destructive proposal to start a mass round-up and removal of wild horses and burros from the West.
This dangerous and ambiguous provision would start the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) down the path of rounding up and removing more than 20,000 horses a year until we have only remnant populations of the equids in the West. The proposal has been pushed by an odd coalition of the Humane Society of the US, Humane Society Legislative Fund, ASPCA, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Many pro-wild horse and burro lawmakers, confused by the alignment of these groups, have simply not taken a close look at the implications of this massive infusion of money into a horse-phobic BLM.
On the upside, Animal Wellness Action, the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), and The Cloud Foundation spent most of the week educating Members of Congress about the dangers of the proposal and successfully exposed the short-sighted and costly pitfalls of the proposal. Our coalition – that includes more than 60 equine and animal protection organizations – held a very successful and well attended briefing on Capitol Hill yesterday for both House and Senate offices that was sponsored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), a champion of PZP birth control.
Pictured left to right Deb Walker and Susanne Roy from the American Wild Horse Campaign, Ginger Kathrens from The Cloud Foundation, and Marty Irby from Animal Wellness Action speaking before Congress this week about the terrible Wild Horse Roundup plan
Conclusion: We appreciate the Senate leaders who led the charge on animal welfare amendments. And we applaud you – the advocates that have spent countless hours, days, and weeks fighting alongside us over the past year to help secure this multitude of wins by making phone calls, meeting with legislators in person, sending emails, and spreading the word.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate the wins and renew and refuel ourselves for the next battle – the conference committee – where the U.S. House and Senate will come together to work out the differences in funding and language between the two chambers. It’s imperative that we stay focused on altering the dangerous attack on wild horses and burros– a massive blunder that treats the wild horses and burros as invaders who should be removed from our western landscapes.
Marty Irby is the executive director at Animal Wellness Action in Washington, D.C
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Press Release
USDA Invests $1.4 Billion in Rural Electric Infrastructure Improvements in 21 States
Investments will Benefit 1.5 million Residents and Businesses
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $1.4 billion in projects in 21 states (PDF, 143 KB) to build and improve rural electric infrastructure.
“Modern and reliable electric infrastructure has been a cornerstone to rural prosperity since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936,” Secretary Perdue said. “This funding we are providing is critical to rural communities and reflects President Trump’s commitment to increasing prosperity across all of rural America. When rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Background:
USDA is providing financing through the Electric Loan Program. It will help build and improve 6,886 miles of line to strengthen reliability in rural areas. The loans include $255.8 million for investments in smart grid infrastructure that uses digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in electricity usage.
Among the loans announced today, Georgia’s Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is receiving $229 million to connect 25,650 customers, and build and improve 1,275 miles of distribution line to enhance system resilience and reliability. Sawnee serves nearly 180,000 customers in seven counties north of Atlanta.
The Haywood Electric Membership Corporation, which serves about 27,000 members in three southern states, is receiving a $24 million loan to connect 1,800 customers, build and upgrade 58 miles of distribution line, and build four miles of transmission line. The loan includes $750,000 to finance smart grid technologies. Haywood provides electric service to eight counties in Western North Carolina, and to portions of two counties in northeastern Georgia and South Carolina.
Florida’s Peace River Electric Cooperative is receiving a $25.2 million loan to connect 3,988 customers; build and upgrade 103 miles of line; build and improve substations, switching stations and metering points; and replace 30 transmission poles. Peace River serves about 43,000 residential and small commercial customers over 3,704 miles of line in central Florida.
USDA announced investments today in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin. USDA will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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EVAN MCMULLIN WILL ADDRESS PRESS PRIOR TO UNITER GOLDEN SPIKE AWARD FUNDRAISER
SALT LAKE CITY, UT-- On November 6, 2019, Evan McMullin will be available to speak informally with members of the press from 11:30-11:45 a.m. before the UUP Annual Uniter Golden Spike Award Fundraiser begins at 12 p.m. at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City, where he will deliver remarks about countering political polarization in America.
The UUP will be honoring former 2016 independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, a Utah native, former CIA officer, investment banker and chief policy director for the House Republicans. He currently serves as the executive director of Stand Up Republic, a national grassroots organization working to defend and strengthen American democracy.
The United Utah Party is a new moderate party in Utah that seeks common sense, practical solutions to governmental problems rather than ideological remedies. In its first electoral cycle, the new party ran 19 candidates for office in 2017-2018 and received approximately 10 percent of the vote - far out polling any other minor party in the state. For more information, go to unitedutah.org.
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The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical kicks off in two weeks! This all-new touring musical features Scout Elves LIVE onstage singing and dancing. This is your invitation to experience the magic and joy of the North Pole, toe-tapping musical numbers and a heartwarming story, in what promises to be the ultimate Christmas celebration. Make your holidays more memorable than ever before by getting your tickets today. Quantities are limited, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by!
Complete your The Elf the Shelf: A Christmas Musical experience with our exclusive preshow photo opportunity with a Scout Elf mascot!
NOV 14 – Easton, PA
NOV 15 – Akron, OH
NOV 16 – Cincinnati, OH
NOV 17 – Paducah, KY
NOV 19 – New Orleans, LA
NOV 20 – Mobile, AL
NOV 21 – Birmingham, AL
NOV 23 – Atlanta, GA
NOV 24 – Orange Park, FL
NOV 25 – Lakeland, FL
NOV 29 – Huntsville, AL
NOV 30 & DEC 1 – Louisville, KY
DEC 2 – Richmond, VA
DEC 3 & 4 – Red Bank, NJ
DEC 5 – Lynn, MA
DEC 6 – Albany, NY
DEC 7 – Rochester, NY
DEC 8 – Syracuse, NY
DEC 10 & 11– Hershey, PA
DEC 12 – Wilkes Barre, PA
DEC 13 & 14 – Wallingford, CT
DEC 15 – Buffalo, NY
DEC 17 – Columbus, OH
DEC 18 – Benton Harbor, MI
DEC 19 – St. Louis, MO
DEC 20 – Waukegan, IL
DEC 21 – Toledo, OH
DEC 22 – Peoria, IL
DEC 23 – Evansville, IN
DEC 26 – Corpus Christi, TX
DEC 27 – Sugar Land, TX
DEC 28 – San Antonio, TX
DEC 29 – Dallas, TX
A Midwest Transplant Family is Grateful for a Second Chance a Life
November 1, 2019 -- As the chill of November sets in, many thoughts turn to holiday planning, Thanksgiving preparations and gratitude. A Missouri family’s ‘Thanksgiving’ will come a bit earlier this month on November 17th as they celebrate their daughter’s two-year ‘transplantaversary’ and remember with gratitude the selfless family who donated their loved one’s life-saving organ. A week later the Fitzmaurice’s large Thanksgiving table will be surrounded by loved ones who truly embrace the essence of gratitude.
Reilly Fitzmaurice of St. Louis, Missouri, was in the middle of her 7th grade soccer season in October 2016 when she, and her parents, Amy and Brian, noticed something was wrong. Reilly missed almost a week of school that month complaining that she just did not feel well and was running a low-grade fever. Amy and Brian assumed she was fighting a flu bug. She started feeling a little better and returned to school on a Friday and played in her team’s soccer game that evening. But over the weekend she started struggling to take deep breaths and her parents noticed how enlarged her midsection had become. The family’s pediatrician was called on Monday. An appointment was made on Tuesday (October 26th) and the doctor, who was immediately concerned with her enlarged spleen, ordered blood work to be done.
Reilly presented several diagnostic challenges to many medical professionals who were consulted with over the coming weeks. More tests were done and more blood was drawn. Then came the shocking news. A liver specialist who had been called in to review the test results told Amy and Brian that Reilly’s liver was completely scarred and would not be able to heal itself. Reilly was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis Cirrhosis. With this disease something triggers the body’s immune system and the body responds by attacking its own liver and eventually destroying it. Reilly’s enlarged abdomen was a result of her enlarged spleen and from another complication of liver cirrhosis called ascites.
Reilly needed a life-saving liver transplant and she needed it soon. Seemingly overnight Reilly went from being a healthy and vibrant athlete to a child who needed an organ transplant to live. The entire Fitzmaurice family was in a state of disbelief including older brothers Evan, Cameron and Brendan and younger siblings Brian Jr., Donovan and McKenzie.
“As a family our lives were turned upside down with Reilly’s sudden diagnosis,” said Amy. “We were also shocked by the fact that we would likely have to raise money to help pay for the medical costs our medical insurance would not cover.”
Brian spent some time reaching several organizations that might be able to help the family financially. During this time a social worker at St. Louis Children’s Hospital suggested they reach out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to learn more about fundraising for transplant-related expenses.
COTA uniquely understands that parents who care for a child or young adult before, during and after a life-saving transplant have enough to deal with, so COTA’s model shifts the responsibility for fundraising to a community team of trained volunteers. On November 1, 2016, Brian called COTA’s 800 number and several weeks later, their formal agreement to become a COTA family was received at the organization’s Indiana, headquarters.
Reilly was added to the liver transplant waiting list in December. According to Brian, it took a couple of months to get her listed for a new liver due to complications with the family’s medical insurance, which they were not allowed to change until the month of December.
On February 9, 2017, a COTA fundraising specialist travelled to St. Louis to train the volunteers for the COTA campaign in honor of Team Reilly F. COTA is a 501(c)3 charity so all contributions to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and COTA funds are available for a lifetime of transplant-related expenses. This group of family members and friends, i.e. COTA Miracle Makers, quickly got to work organizing fundraisers to help with mounting transplant-related expenses.
2017 was a challenging year for the Fitzmaurice family. They were juggling busy, sports-filled lives of their six other children (some of them playing college sports a distance from home) while trying to keep their family business running and balancing all of this with Reilly’s medical needs, periodic infections, appointments and medications. Due to her health status while waiting for a new liver, Reilly was unable to return to school and was enrolled in a Home Bound program to keep her education on track.
2017 also proved to be a very successful year for the many COTA Miracle Makers who quickly got to work raising funds for transplant-related expenses. In a seemingly short amount of time, these dedicated friends and family members raised more than $185,000 for COTA in honor of Team Reilly F. With the family’s immense stressors surrounding Reilly’s need for a new liver, this was definitely a ray of hope for the Fitzmaurices.
“COTA provided a way for people to help during these difficult days of waiting,” said Amy and Brian. “Our friends and family members were feeling helpless and COTA became the perfect way people could plug in and make a life-saving difference. We felt helpless, too, because we were not able to help our daughter. COTA gave us peace of mind in very important ways.”
Brian and Amy will never forget the donor family who gave them the ultimate gift by saving Reilly’s life. They are also extremely grateful for COTA. They said, “We are blessed in many ways, and we will always be grateful to COTA for being on this journey with us.”
“In the matter of one year’s time, our lives turned upside down. Our healthy and athletic teenager was playing volleyball and soccer one week and was sent to see an abdominal specialist the next. We had never even heard of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), but in a very short amount of time COTA became our source of hope. Having to raise money to keep your child alive is the most humbling circumstance we have ever found ourselves in. We do not know what the future holds, but we are so grateful to know COTA will be with us each step of the way … for a lifetime.”
Reilly’s post-transplant life is starting to look like her pre-transplant life. She has returned to school and has resumed many of her favorite activities including shopping for clothes and spending time with her friends and many brothers and sister. There are some days this teenager feels tired and other days she feels great but gets tired of her mom asking her how she is feeling. When asked what her hope for the future is, Reilly said, “To live life to the fullest. To take life one day at a time and continue to get healthier and stronger each day. And to always remember to be grateful.”
This year the Fitzmaurice Thanksgiving table will be full of grateful people and their Thanksgiving blessing will likely include a chorus of thanks for Reilly’s donor angel for whom they are forever grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving Fitzmaurice Family from your COTA Family!
For more information about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA),
or to find a COTA family in your area, please email kim@cota.org.
COTA Teen Reilly Fitzmaurice
Liver Transplant Recipient
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Children's Organ Transplant Association, 2501 W Cota Dr, Bloomington, IN 47403 United States
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