PETITION FROM THE CONSTITUENTS OF               THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

To the Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives

We, the undersigned constituents of the United States, respectfully petition the members of Congress to oppose further expansion of federal animal welfare legislation, and to consider devolving authority over such matters to the individual states, in alignment with principles of federalism under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

We are deeply concerned that recent federal animal welfare laws and regulations—particularly those influenced by advocacy groups with no electoral mandate—have imposed unintended and disproportionate burdens on rural communities, small farmers, and related industries. We believe that such policies, are increasingly being shaped without adequate representation of or consultation with the people and industries most affected by them.

We further note the following:

- The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) has been significantly expanded and amended since its inception in 1966. While originally designed to prevent cruelty in specific contexts, its growing scope has created regulatory burdens that often conflict with state-level agricultural practices and economic realities.

- The U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts have consistently affirmed that animals are not legal persons and are regarded as property under the law, which raises concerns about how “animal rights” legislation is framed and justified.

- The recent Supreme Court decision overturning Chevron deference (e.g., Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 2024) reinforces the need for Congress to reassess the extent to which agencies such as USDA and APHIS are granted broad interpretive authority in enforcing ambiguous statutory language.

- The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, and we believe animal welfare regulation—particularly in agricultural and commercial contexts—is more appropriately handled by state legislatures that can better represent local values, conditions, and economies.

Therefore, we the undersigned respectfully request that Congress:

1. Refrain from introducing or passing new federal legislation expanding animal rights/welfare regulations; 

2. Consider legislative reforms that would return regulatory authority for animal welfare matters to the states;

3. Ensure that no amendments be made to the AWA.

This petition is submitted in accordance with our constitutional rights under the First Amendment to petition our government for a redress of grievances. Our voices will continue to be heard through civic engagement and the electoral process.

Contacts for this Petition:

National RAOA 

P.O. Box 1521, Grayson, KY 41143

(606) 315-6863 

raoaunited@gmail.com 

United States Human Defense League

P.O. Box 6538, Bryan, TX 77801

(979) 220-0535

doni.ushdl@gmail.com