Press Release

Animal Wellness Action Endorses Mike Garcia in Race for Re-Election in California’s 27th Congressional District

Congressman deserves support for steadfast leadership on numerous animal welfare issues.

Washington D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political organization seeking to enhance and advance legal protections for animals, has endorsed Mike Garcia for re-election in the race for California’s 27th congressional district. The organization has endorsed him in his two prior races.

The group lauded his steadfast advocacy and leadership on numerous animal welfare issues. This term, he co-sponsored the FIGHT Act (H.R. 2742) to address organized animal fighting, the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475) to end horse slaughter for human consumption, and the Greyhound Protection Act (H.R. 3894) to end greyhound racing in the United States.

“Mike Garcia is a genuine and sincere advocate for animal welfare in the U.S. Congress,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “He understands that cruelty to animals is wrong and that it’s typically bound up with other forms of social violence.”

Pacelle expressed special appreciation for Rep. Garcia’s opposition to the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which would federally overturn California’s Prop 12 and other voter-approved state laws to shield farm animals from extreme confinement and inhumane treatment.

Earlier this year, Rep. Garcia also voted against an irresponsible bill the House Republican leadership brought up on the House floor that would have weakened the Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves by prematurely removing federal protections for them across much of their range in the lower 48 states. Eliminating those federal protections would translate into trophy hunting and commercial trapping of the forebears of the domesticated dog. It might also expose them, in some states, to being run over with snowmobiles – a practice that came to light earlier this year in Wyoming.

“We urge voters in the 27th congressional district of California to back Rep. Mike Garcia this fall,” Pacelle said. “He’s passionate about animal welfare and fighting for mainstream policies to protect domesticated and wild animals.”

The full endorsement letter for Rep. Garcia may be viewed here.

Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @AWAction_News