Press Release

For Immediate Release:
August 29, 2023

Contact:
Natalie Ahwesh
740-317-1327
Email Natalie here

Animal Wellness Groups Join Allegheny County Councilwoman Prizio in Sponsoring ‘Will of Council’ to Oppose Federal EATS Act

Local move would stand up for states’ rights and against extreme farm animal confinement

Pittsburgh, PA — Humane Action Pittsburgh and Animal Wellness Action are proud to join Allegheny County Councilwoman Anita Prizio, who is sponsoring a Will of Council that opposes a federal bill called the EATS Act, designed to dismantle state measures that voters and legislatures in various states have passed to grant farm animals some room to move.

Councilmembers will be discussing this motion today at their regular meeting.

The bill in question of being opposed is called Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act and it targets the nation’s most important state-based animal-welfare laws — Prop 12 in California and Question 3 in Massachusetts. Opposition to these state measures for animal welfare come largely from Chinese-owned factory farms operating here in the United States.

Councilwoman Anita Prizio issued this statement:

“By sponsoring this motion, I’m asking my fellow councilmembers to join me in urging the PA congressional delegation to oppose the EATS Act. If enacted, years’ worth of legislative victory for farmed animals at the state level could be jeopardized. In fact, the bill’s broad language could imperil local regulations designed to promote local agriculture, protect dogs from the cruelty of puppy mills and preserve our environment.”

Humane Action Pittsburgh’s Natalie Ahwesh, who also works as PA State Director for Animal Wellness Action, also issued a statement:

“As an Allegheny County resident, I am proud our County Council is speaking out against this horrible bill, which is an attack on states’ rights, small farmers, and animal welfare.”

The Will of Council can be read 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

Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter

Humane Action Pittsburgh is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to advance the protection of all animals by empowering people to affect change through education, policy, and community action.