
Decision Maker
U.S. House of Representatives

Decision Maker
U.S. House of Representatives


We are all shocked and horrified by the murder of Amie Harwick, and my thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. Violence against women continues to be a scourge in our society that must be eradicated, and the circumstances of this crime by a man who had been subject to a restraining order are all too common and horrific. While this issue gets broad attention when those well known to the public are victimized, it affects countless women all over the county. Protective orders need to be easier to obtain and renew, and their enforcement — from police to prosecutor — must be much more highly prioritized to be effective. I have met with police, the city attorney and district attorney to advocate for victims on this issue, and I am going to continue to pursue the matter until all victims are protected. In Congress, we can start by reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act which was passed by the House last year and remains held up by opposition in the Senate. I look forward to staying engaged with your effort and doing everything I can to protect victims of domestic violence and secure Justice 4 Amie.
We are all shocked and horrified by the murder of Amie Harwick, and my thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. Violence against women continues to be a scourge in our society that must be eradicated, and the circumstances of this crime by a man who had been subject to a restraining order are all too common and horrific. While this issue gets broad attention when those well known to the public are victimized, it affects countless women all over the county. Protective orders need to be easier to obtain and renew, and their enforcement — from police to prosecutor — must be much more highly prioritized to be effective. I have met with police, the city attorney and district attorney to advocate for victims on this issue, and I am going to continue to pursue the matter until all victims are protected. In Congress, we can start by reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act which was passed by the House last year and remains held up by opposition in the Senate. I look forward to staying engaged with your effort and doing everything I can to protect victims of domestic violence and secure Justice 4 Amie.


Animals should always be treated humanely, including when they are used in taxpayer-funded laboratory research. I strongly agree with the more than one million people who have urged federal agencies to retire dogs, cats, primates, and other animals from government laboratories by signing this White Coat Waste Project petition. After hearing from many of my constituents and other advocates, I recently introduced the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments and Research Act, or the AFTER Act. This first-of-its-kind bill would require federal agencies to enact policies allowing for the retirement of healthy animals no longer needed in government testing labs. The bipartisan AFTER Act will ensure agencies make good faith efforts to safely and humanely relocate healthy animals to loving homes, rescues, or reputable sanctuaries when they are no longer needed for testing. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit one of those sanctuaries in my congressional district. The Peaceable Primate Sanctuary is a wonderful non-profit refuge that is home to more than 30 baboons and other primates retired from biomedical research. Now I’m working to ensure that primates from U.S. government labs are relocated to sanctuaries like this where they can live out the rest of their lives. In addition to introducing the AFTER Act, I recently helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful research on dogs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thanks to your advocacy, we’re making great progress. I remain committed to working to ensure animals can be adopted or transferred to sanctuaries when they’re no longer needed for taxpayer-funded research. Sincerely, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) https://twitter.com/RepWalorski https://www.facebook.com/RepJackieWalorski/ https://www.instagram.com/jackiewalorski/
Animals should always be treated humanely, including when they are used in taxpayer-funded laboratory research. I strongly agree with the more than one million people who have urged federal agencies to retire dogs, cats, primates, and other animals from government laboratories by signing this White Coat Waste Project petition. After hearing from many of my constituents and other advocates, I recently introduced the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments and Research Act, or the AFTER Act. This first-of-its-kind bill would require federal agencies to enact policies allowing for the retirement of healthy animals no longer needed in government testing labs. The bipartisan AFTER Act will ensure agencies make good faith efforts to safely and humanely relocate healthy animals to loving homes, rescues, or reputable sanctuaries when they are no longer needed for testing. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit one of those sanctuaries in my congressional district. The Peaceable Primate Sanctuary is a wonderful non-profit refuge that is home to more than 30 baboons and other primates retired from biomedical research. Now I’m working to ensure that primates from U.S. government labs are relocated to sanctuaries like this where they can live out the rest of their lives. In addition to introducing the AFTER Act, I recently helped introduce the PUPPERS Act to end painful research on dogs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thanks to your advocacy, we’re making great progress. I remain committed to working to ensure animals can be adopted or transferred to sanctuaries when they’re no longer needed for taxpayer-funded research. Sincerely, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) https://twitter.com/RepWalorski https://www.facebook.com/RepJackieWalorski/ https://www.instagram.com/jackiewalorski/


Two weeks ago, Congress managed to finally pass a spending bill to avoid another government shutdown. This bill was 3 months overdue, and we cannot wait for the next shutdown to hold Congress accountable. Every Member of Congress, “Solemnly swears [to] support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution states that “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law.” This means that when each Member of Congress takes the oath of office, it is their Constitutional duty to ensure the government is open, funded, and running. So, when the government is shutdown in any manner, it means Congress is not doing their jobs. (Disclaimer: Congress has fully funded the government on time only four times since 1974!) The fact that Congress continuously has the same issue every year is shocking. Where else in America do employees get paid for not doing their job? The answer is easy – nowhere. If this is the standard across America, then it should also apply to Members of Congress. As it stands now, Members receive regular pay when federal workers, and thousands of Americans, have their pay withheld during a government shutdown. This is ridiculous. It is appalling that Members get paid when the government shuts down, and now is the time to bring a dose of reality to Washington. If we cannot do our jobs we have failed the American people and therefore have not earned our pay – plain and simple. There is bipartisan consensus that Congress should not be paid during a government shutdown, and now is the time to bring common-sense back to the legislative branch of government. Without common-sense and proper accountability, Congress will continue to fail to do its job and will always fail the American people.
Two weeks ago, Congress managed to finally pass a spending bill to avoid another government shutdown. This bill was 3 months overdue, and we cannot wait for the next shutdown to hold Congress accountable. Every Member of Congress, “Solemnly swears [to] support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution states that “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law.” This means that when each Member of Congress takes the oath of office, it is their Constitutional duty to ensure the government is open, funded, and running. So, when the government is shutdown in any manner, it means Congress is not doing their jobs. (Disclaimer: Congress has fully funded the government on time only four times since 1974!) The fact that Congress continuously has the same issue every year is shocking. Where else in America do employees get paid for not doing their job? The answer is easy – nowhere. If this is the standard across America, then it should also apply to Members of Congress. As it stands now, Members receive regular pay when federal workers, and thousands of Americans, have their pay withheld during a government shutdown. This is ridiculous. It is appalling that Members get paid when the government shuts down, and now is the time to bring a dose of reality to Washington. If we cannot do our jobs we have failed the American people and therefore have not earned our pay – plain and simple. There is bipartisan consensus that Congress should not be paid during a government shutdown, and now is the time to bring common-sense back to the legislative branch of government. Without common-sense and proper accountability, Congress will continue to fail to do its job and will always fail the American people.


Two weeks ago, Congress managed to finally pass a spending bill to avoid another government shutdown. This bill was 3 months overdue, and we cannot wait for the next shutdown to hold Congress accountable. Every Member of Congress, “Solemnly swears [to] support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution states that “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law.” This means that when each Member of Congress takes the oath of office, it is their Constitutional duty to ensure the government is open, funded, and running. So, when the government is shutdown in any manner, it means Congress is not doing their jobs. (Disclaimer: Congress has fully funded the government on time only four times since 1974!) The fact that Congress continuously has the same issue every year is shocking. Where else in America do employees get paid for not doing their job? The answer is easy – nowhere. If this is the standard across America, then it should also apply to Members of Congress. As it stands now, Members receive regular pay when federal workers, and thousands of Americans, have their pay withheld during a government shutdown. This is ridiculous. It is appalling that Members get paid when the government shuts down, and now is the time to bring a dose of reality to Washington. If we cannot do our jobs we have failed the American people and therefore have not earned our pay – plain and simple. There is bipartisan consensus that Congress should not be paid during a government shutdown, and now is the time to bring common-sense back to the legislative branch of government. Without common-sense and proper accountability, Congress will continue to fail to do its job and will always fail the American people.
Two weeks ago, Congress managed to finally pass a spending bill to avoid another government shutdown. This bill was 3 months overdue, and we cannot wait for the next shutdown to hold Congress accountable. Every Member of Congress, “Solemnly swears [to] support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution states that “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law.” This means that when each Member of Congress takes the oath of office, it is their Constitutional duty to ensure the government is open, funded, and running. So, when the government is shutdown in any manner, it means Congress is not doing their jobs. (Disclaimer: Congress has fully funded the government on time only four times since 1974!) The fact that Congress continuously has the same issue every year is shocking. Where else in America do employees get paid for not doing their job? The answer is easy – nowhere. If this is the standard across America, then it should also apply to Members of Congress. As it stands now, Members receive regular pay when federal workers, and thousands of Americans, have their pay withheld during a government shutdown. This is ridiculous. It is appalling that Members get paid when the government shuts down, and now is the time to bring a dose of reality to Washington. If we cannot do our jobs we have failed the American people and therefore have not earned our pay – plain and simple. There is bipartisan consensus that Congress should not be paid during a government shutdown, and now is the time to bring common-sense back to the legislative branch of government. Without common-sense and proper accountability, Congress will continue to fail to do its job and will always fail the American people.


I want to thank Thomas and Katie for taking the time to write this petition, and everyone who has signed onto it thus far. Our number one job in Congress is to write and pass a budget to ensure the entire federal government is open and operating. In any other profession, if you don’t do your job, you don’t get your paycheck. Congress should not be any different. That is why my first action in this Congress was to re-introduce my Hold Congress Accountable Act. The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads “No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened,” prohibits Congress from altering its own pay. This necessary amendment was written, of course, to prevent Members of Congress from giving themselves a bloated paycheck. The unintended consequence, however, is that Congress cannot pass legislation that would reduce our salaries. To put it simply, it is written into the Constitution that Members of Congress must be paid in full every month, even during a shutdown. Changing this would require a constitutional amendment like H.J.Res.18, a bipartisan joint resolution that I have cosponsored. As Thomas and Katie note, however, cutting Congress’s paycheck during a shutdown is not a partisan idea. There is plenty of support from across the political spectrum for holding Congress accountable. The reality, however, is that two-thirds of the House and the Senate are required to pass a constitutional amendment. And I am a realist – in this climate, it can feel like getting two-thirds of both chambers to agree on anything would be nothing short of a miracle. As an alternative to a constitutional amendment, my bipartisan Hold Congress Accountable Act is written such that for any shutdown during the Congress in which my bill becomes law, Members’ pay will be withheld during the shutdown in an escrow account and they would receive it at the end of the Congress. For any shutdown taking place after 2020, Members’ pay during any lapse in appropriations would be canceled altogether. I first introduced a version of my bill in 2013, following the 17-day shutdown in October of that year. Since that time, I have also donated the paycheck that I have received during shutdowns to charitable organizations in my home state of Oregon. A handful of my colleagues have done the same, and I applaud them. I just think it’s the right thing to do. But it is not enough. Members of Congress ought to feel the same urgency that our constituents and communities often face during these shutdown. It is totally inappropriate and just plain wrong to hold the paychecks of public servants across the country in a limbo because Congress isn’t doing its job. We owe it to everyone to change this. I want to thank every one of you for continuing to raise your voice on this issue. Together, let’s make this change!
I want to thank Thomas and Katie for taking the time to write this petition, and everyone who has signed onto it thus far. Our number one job in Congress is to write and pass a budget to ensure the entire federal government is open and operating. In any other profession, if you don’t do your job, you don’t get your paycheck. Congress should not be any different. That is why my first action in this Congress was to re-introduce my Hold Congress Accountable Act. The 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads “No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened,” prohibits Congress from altering its own pay. This necessary amendment was written, of course, to prevent Members of Congress from giving themselves a bloated paycheck. The unintended consequence, however, is that Congress cannot pass legislation that would reduce our salaries. To put it simply, it is written into the Constitution that Members of Congress must be paid in full every month, even during a shutdown. Changing this would require a constitutional amendment like H.J.Res.18, a bipartisan joint resolution that I have cosponsored. As Thomas and Katie note, however, cutting Congress’s paycheck during a shutdown is not a partisan idea. There is plenty of support from across the political spectrum for holding Congress accountable. The reality, however, is that two-thirds of the House and the Senate are required to pass a constitutional amendment. And I am a realist – in this climate, it can feel like getting two-thirds of both chambers to agree on anything would be nothing short of a miracle. As an alternative to a constitutional amendment, my bipartisan Hold Congress Accountable Act is written such that for any shutdown during the Congress in which my bill becomes law, Members’ pay will be withheld during the shutdown in an escrow account and they would receive it at the end of the Congress. For any shutdown taking place after 2020, Members’ pay during any lapse in appropriations would be canceled altogether. I first introduced a version of my bill in 2013, following the 17-day shutdown in October of that year. Since that time, I have also donated the paycheck that I have received during shutdowns to charitable organizations in my home state of Oregon. A handful of my colleagues have done the same, and I applaud them. I just think it’s the right thing to do. But it is not enough. Members of Congress ought to feel the same urgency that our constituents and communities often face during these shutdown. It is totally inappropriate and just plain wrong to hold the paychecks of public servants across the country in a limbo because Congress isn’t doing its job. We owe it to everyone to change this. I want to thank every one of you for continuing to raise your voice on this issue. Together, let’s make this change!


Thank you for sharing your thoughts about congressional pay during government shutdowns. You may be pleased to learn that I agree with you. In fact, when the partial government shutdown began in December, I immediately sent instructions to the Clerk of the House to halt my pay. The American people expect Congress to do its most basic job: pass a budget and fund the government. If we can’t, then we shouldn’t get paid. To ensure this is the standard, I introduced the No Work, No Pay Act of 2019 (H.R. 26). This bill would prohibit senators and representatives from being paid during periods when any Federal agency is shut down due to a lapse in funding appropriated by Congress. Republicans and Democrats need to come together and find an end to this government shutdown. Additionally, I believe we cannot continue to govern with continuing resolutions and short-term spending deals. I strongly believe it is an irresponsible way to govern and that we should focus on passing appropriations bills on time and through regular order. Before coming to Congress, I was the Mayor of Provo, Utah. I was proud that my city balanced our city’s budget every year. Washington should take note of states, like my home State of Utah, that do it right. Not only does the Utah Legislature pass a baseline budget at the beginning of each legislative session to avoid any state government shutdown threats, but they also responsibly balance the state’s budget every year. Utahns expect better from their elected representatives and I don’t intend to let them down. Once again, thank you for sharing your views with me on this important issue. Your input is an essential part of the decision-making process as I represent the interests of my constituents in Utah. Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @RepJohnCurtis for updates on my work in Congress.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about congressional pay during government shutdowns. You may be pleased to learn that I agree with you. In fact, when the partial government shutdown began in December, I immediately sent instructions to the Clerk of the House to halt my pay. The American people expect Congress to do its most basic job: pass a budget and fund the government. If we can’t, then we shouldn’t get paid. To ensure this is the standard, I introduced the No Work, No Pay Act of 2019 (H.R. 26). This bill would prohibit senators and representatives from being paid during periods when any Federal agency is shut down due to a lapse in funding appropriated by Congress. Republicans and Democrats need to come together and find an end to this government shutdown. Additionally, I believe we cannot continue to govern with continuing resolutions and short-term spending deals. I strongly believe it is an irresponsible way to govern and that we should focus on passing appropriations bills on time and through regular order. Before coming to Congress, I was the Mayor of Provo, Utah. I was proud that my city balanced our city’s budget every year. Washington should take note of states, like my home State of Utah, that do it right. Not only does the Utah Legislature pass a baseline budget at the beginning of each legislative session to avoid any state government shutdown threats, but they also responsibly balance the state’s budget every year. Utahns expect better from their elected representatives and I don’t intend to let them down. Once again, thank you for sharing your views with me on this important issue. Your input is an essential part of the decision-making process as I represent the interests of my constituents in Utah. Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @RepJohnCurtis for updates on my work in Congress.

Thank you for your participation in the Change.org advocacy campaign regarding clean-up at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) site. I appreciate knowing of our shared commitment to clean-up the SSFL site and protect public health. Clean-up of this site is a high public health and safety priority, and my involvement with the clean-up goes back to my time in the California Assembly as a principal co-author of SB990, state legislation to require the full clean-up. It is vitally important that we hold all three responsible parties, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Boeing, to the highest standards that will fully protect the public health from harmful chemical and radionuclide contamination. As the state and federal environmental documents are prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it is also critical that DOE, NASA, and DTSC continue to engage with the local community to ensure that local resident and stakeholder views are heard. Since coming to Congress, I have been constantly engaged in this issue with local stakeholders, DTSC, and the two responsible federal agencies, DOE and NASA. I have also been working to push Congress to appropriate the necessary funding for the NASA and DOE federally responsible areas of SSFL. While Boeing was successful through the courts in overturning SB990, the law that was intended to force a complete clean-up for the areas controlled by Boeing, NASA and DOE, DTSC still has an important role in ensuring the highest clean-up standard possible and I believe it would be in Boeing's best interest to work with not only DTSC, but the community and local elected leaders to ensure the highest level of clean-up. Please be assured that I will continue to be engaged in this process and that the time you took to express your views is extremely helpful as the process moves forward. Please be assured that I will also continue to work at the federal level to ensure a full clean-up of the SSFL site.
Thank you for your participation in the Change.org advocacy campaign regarding clean-up at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) site. I appreciate knowing of our shared commitment to clean-up the SSFL site and protect public health. Clean-up of this site is a high public health and safety priority, and my involvement with the clean-up goes back to my time in the California Assembly as a principal co-author of SB990, state legislation to require the full clean-up. It is vitally important that we hold all three responsible parties, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Boeing, to the highest standards that will fully protect the public health from harmful chemical and radionuclide contamination. As the state and federal environmental documents are prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it is also critical that DOE, NASA, and DTSC continue to engage with the local community to ensure that local resident and stakeholder views are heard. Since coming to Congress, I have been constantly engaged in this issue with local stakeholders, DTSC, and the two responsible federal agencies, DOE and NASA. I have also been working to push Congress to appropriate the necessary funding for the NASA and DOE federally responsible areas of SSFL. While Boeing was successful through the courts in overturning SB990, the law that was intended to force a complete clean-up for the areas controlled by Boeing, NASA and DOE, DTSC still has an important role in ensuring the highest clean-up standard possible and I believe it would be in Boeing's best interest to work with not only DTSC, but the community and local elected leaders to ensure the highest level of clean-up. Please be assured that I will continue to be engaged in this process and that the time you took to express your views is extremely helpful as the process moves forward. Please be assured that I will also continue to work at the federal level to ensure a full clean-up of the SSFL site.


Thank you for joining this important petition in support of the Sanchez family. For more than twenty years, Maria & Eusebio Sanchez were longstanding residents of the East Bay, who were respectful neighbors and friends. Maria worked as a nurse at Highland Hospital, giving back to our community, and the family recently bought their first home in Oakland. Their story is the epitome of the American Dream. The cruel and heartless deportation of the Sanchezes tore apart their family and emphasized how broken our immigration system truly is. Despite our calls for compassion, and the Administration's insistence that it would prioritize the deportation of those with serious criminal records, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement heartlessly deported the Sanchezes, forcing them to leave their daughters here to care for themselves. That is unacceptable. Instead of tearing families apart, we need comprehensive immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship for those like Maria and Eusbio who are well-respected members of our communities but lack immigration status. Until then, we need to support and protect our undocumented neighbors. That's why in Congress I have introduced H.R. 3818, to provide permanent resident status for the Sanchez family and I will not rest until we bring Maria and Eusebio back home to Oakland where they belong. Know that I will continue the fight to improve our immigration system and protect immigrant families. We must all work to resist this Administration's heartless immigration policies that reject the core values of our nation. Thank you again for your support of this petition. Sincerely, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA 13)
Thank you for joining this important petition in support of the Sanchez family. For more than twenty years, Maria & Eusebio Sanchez were longstanding residents of the East Bay, who were respectful neighbors and friends. Maria worked as a nurse at Highland Hospital, giving back to our community, and the family recently bought their first home in Oakland. Their story is the epitome of the American Dream. The cruel and heartless deportation of the Sanchezes tore apart their family and emphasized how broken our immigration system truly is. Despite our calls for compassion, and the Administration's insistence that it would prioritize the deportation of those with serious criminal records, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement heartlessly deported the Sanchezes, forcing them to leave their daughters here to care for themselves. That is unacceptable. Instead of tearing families apart, we need comprehensive immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship for those like Maria and Eusbio who are well-respected members of our communities but lack immigration status. Until then, we need to support and protect our undocumented neighbors. That's why in Congress I have introduced H.R. 3818, to provide permanent resident status for the Sanchez family and I will not rest until we bring Maria and Eusebio back home to Oakland where they belong. Know that I will continue the fight to improve our immigration system and protect immigrant families. We must all work to resist this Administration's heartless immigration policies that reject the core values of our nation. Thank you again for your support of this petition. Sincerely, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA 13)

Dear Friends, Thank you for joining this petition. Your participation is very helpful in drawing attention to Mrs. Phan and her need to be reunited with her mother given her dire medical condition. I have been trying to help Mrs. Phan’s mother get into the United States to see her daughter. In addition to contacting the US Embassy in Vietnam and contacting the State Department, I want you to know that I have also reached out to President Trump to request his assistance. I have urged the President to consider the Nguyen-Phan family’s request with the utmost urgency and compassion. You can read my letter to the President here: http://bit.ly/2vVn1ew Thank you again for adding your voice and demonstrating your support for Mrs. Phan. Sincerely, Zoe Lofgren Member of Congress
Dear Friends, Thank you for joining this petition. Your participation is very helpful in drawing attention to Mrs. Phan and her need to be reunited with her mother given her dire medical condition. I have been trying to help Mrs. Phan’s mother get into the United States to see her daughter. In addition to contacting the US Embassy in Vietnam and contacting the State Department, I want you to know that I have also reached out to President Trump to request his assistance. I have urged the President to consider the Nguyen-Phan family’s request with the utmost urgency and compassion. You can read my letter to the President here: http://bit.ly/2vVn1ew Thank you again for adding your voice and demonstrating your support for Mrs. Phan. Sincerely, Zoe Lofgren Member of Congress


Hello, I applaud your advocacy for dogs and am excited to share some important news about my work with the White Coat Waste Project and colleagues in Congress to end abusive dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.). This week, after hearing from countless constituents about this issue, I helped introduce a bipartisan amendment to the V.A.’s spending bill that would prohibit taxpayer funds from being spent on dog experiments that cause the animals significant—and sometimes unrelieved—pain and distress. I proud to report that the House of Representatives unanimously passed our amendment to cut funding for these cruel and wasteful experiments. There is still more work to do, including winning support in the Senate, but this is an important first step. It signals to the V.A. and other federal agencies that Congress will not tolerate taxpayers’ money being wasted on dog abuse. As an Army veteran and wounded warrior, this is especially significant for me. Having sustained catastrophic injuries on the battlefield, which included the loss of both my legs, I am acutely aware of the vital role dogs play in helping troops recover from war’s physical and psychological tolls. Additionally, given the V.A.’s limited resources, it is unjustifiable for it to spend taxpayers’ money hurting dogs in questionable experiments when veterans are unable to get the treatment and care they need. We must do better for veterans, dogs and American taxpayers. I am grateful for your involvement and support and will continue to keep you informed about our progress on this issue. Sincerely, Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL) http://www.facebook.com/RepBrianMast http://www.twitter.com/RepBrianMast http://www.instagram.com/RepBrianMast
Hello, I applaud your advocacy for dogs and am excited to share some important news about my work with the White Coat Waste Project and colleagues in Congress to end abusive dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.). This week, after hearing from countless constituents about this issue, I helped introduce a bipartisan amendment to the V.A.’s spending bill that would prohibit taxpayer funds from being spent on dog experiments that cause the animals significant—and sometimes unrelieved—pain and distress. I proud to report that the House of Representatives unanimously passed our amendment to cut funding for these cruel and wasteful experiments. There is still more work to do, including winning support in the Senate, but this is an important first step. It signals to the V.A. and other federal agencies that Congress will not tolerate taxpayers’ money being wasted on dog abuse. As an Army veteran and wounded warrior, this is especially significant for me. Having sustained catastrophic injuries on the battlefield, which included the loss of both my legs, I am acutely aware of the vital role dogs play in helping troops recover from war’s physical and psychological tolls. Additionally, given the V.A.’s limited resources, it is unjustifiable for it to spend taxpayers’ money hurting dogs in questionable experiments when veterans are unable to get the treatment and care they need. We must do better for veterans, dogs and American taxpayers. I am grateful for your involvement and support and will continue to keep you informed about our progress on this issue. Sincerely, Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL) http://www.facebook.com/RepBrianMast http://www.twitter.com/RepBrianMast http://www.instagram.com/RepBrianMast