On the recordOctober 22, 2019
I thank Representatives Deutch and Buchanan for this bill. I am very excited to be able to vote for it today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the PACT Act, and am grateful for the support that it has. As a longtime animal lover and advocate, and somebody who worked to take care of the puppy mill issues that we have in my own State of Iowa, I know more than anybody that there is nothing like bringing animals to the forefront that brings people together. This is absolutely a bipartisan issue. And while the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act prohibits trade in obscene video depictions of live animals being tortured, as Representative Deutch said, the bill did nothing to prohibit the underlying conduct of the cruelty itself. This is what the PACT Act does. It strengthens the animal crush video law by prohibiting animal cruelty, regardless of whether a video is produced. There is documented connection between animal cruelty and violence to people. In fact, studies show animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people, and it is linked to domestic violence, as well as child and elder abuse. The PACT Act gives Federal law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to combat extreme animal cruelty and to protect our communities at the same time.…
