Tenure: 116th, 119th Congresses
Years of Service: 2019–2021, 2025–Present
Rep. Gil Cisneros has assembled a strong and well-rounded animal protection record that combines affirmative legislative engagement with consistently favorable votes on major animal welfare issues. Although much of his congressional work has focused on national security, education, veterans’ issues, and economic opportunity, Cisneros has repeatedly aligned himself with efforts to strengthen protections for animals and wildlife. His record spans anti-cruelty enforcement, horse protection, wildlife conservation, farm-animal welfare, and opposition to controversial wildlife management practices.
One of the most notable aspects of Cisneros’s record is the breadth of his legislative involvement. He is a cosponsor of the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, legislation designed to strengthen federal enforcement against serious acts of animal cruelty. He is also a cosponsor of the FIGHT Act, which would bolster federal efforts to combat animal fighting operations and associated criminal enterprises. Together, these measures reflect support for stronger tools to address some of the most egregious forms of animal abuse.
Cisneros has likewise demonstrated a commitment to horse protection. He is a cosponsor of the SAFE Act (Safeguard American Food Exports Act), legislation that would permanently prohibit the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and ban the export of horses for slaughter abroad. The SAFE Act remains one of the most important federal animal welfare bills before Congress and has long been a central priority for efforts to end the horse slaughter pipeline.
Cisneros has also shown a willingness to engage on controversial wildlife issues. He signed the bipartisan congressional letter expressing concern over federal plans to carry out large-scale lethal removal of barred owls in the Pacific Northwest. The letter urged greater scrutiny of the proposal and reflected concerns about the ecological, ethical, and fiscal implications of a long-term plan to kill hundreds of thousands of owls. Cisneros also cosponsored H.J. Res. 111 opposing the USFWS’ barred owl management strategy.
On farm-animal welfare, Cisneros signed the Democratic congressional letter opposing the Save Our Bacon Act. The legislation sought to undermine state animal welfare laws such as California’s Proposition 12 by limiting states’ ability to establish humane standards governing agricultural products sold within their borders. His opposition reflected support for preserving state animal welfare protections and defending voter-approved humane treatment standards.
His voting record has been consistently favorable across the major animal protection issues that have come before Congress. Cisneros voted against H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which would remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves. He also voted against H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, preserving federal authority to regulate lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle on federal lands and waters. These votes aligned with wildlife conservation priorities and efforts to reduce preventable wildlife mortality.
He also voted against the Moore Amendment, which sought to create an exemption from the federal prohibition on commercial greyhound racing. His vote supported maintaining federal protections that have helped bring commercial greyhound racing to an end across much of the country.
On food-system innovation, Cisneros voted against the Greene Amendment, which sought to prohibit federal support for cultivated meat and related technologies. By opposing the amendment, he supported continued research into alternatives that could reduce reliance on conventional animal agriculture and decrease the number of animals raised and slaughtered for food.
Cisneros likewise voted against the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, which included provisions that would have preempted state farm-animal welfare laws such as California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3. That vote reinforced his opposition to federal efforts aimed at weakening state animal welfare standards.
What distinguishes Cisneros is the combination of affirmative legislative action and favorable voting. His record extends beyond support on the House floor and includes sponsorship and advocacy efforts involving anti-cruelty enforcement, horse protection, wildlife conservation, and farm-animal welfare. The breadth of that engagement places him among the stronger animal protection advocates in California’s congressional delegation.
Taken as a whole, Cisneros’s record places him in the Champion of Animal Protection category. His support for the ACE Act, FIGHT Act, SAFE Act, H.J. Res. 111, opposition to Save Our Bacon, advocacy regarding the barred owl proposal, and consistently favorable voting record demonstrate a substantial commitment to animal protection issues across multiple policy areas.
Notable Actions
119th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 1661, to ban U.S.-based horse slaughter and the export of horses for slaughter for human consumption.
✅ Cosponsor of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, H.R. 3946, to strengthen federal enforcement against animal fighting and related criminal activity.
✅ Cosponsor of the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, H.R. 1477, to establish a dedicated DOJ unit to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty crimes.
✅ Cosponsor of the FBI Animal Cruelty Task Force (FBI ACT) Act, H.R. 3683, to establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Task Force within the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate and enforce federal animal cruelty laws, including those involving dogfighting, cockfighting, crush videos, and related offenses.
✅ Cosponsor of the Stop Billion-Dollar FWS Plan to Kill Half a Million Owls, H.J. Res. 111, a Congressional Review Act resolution to nullify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan to kill approximately 450,000 barred owls to reduce competition with northern spotted owls.
✅ Cosponsor of the Puppy Protection Act, H.R. 2253, bipartisan legislation to strengthen federal standards of care for dogs kept by commercial breeders by improving requirements for housing, veterinary care, exercise, socialization, and humane breeding practices.
✅ Cosponsor of the Better CARE for Animals Act, H.R. 3112, to strengthen enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by expanding federal authority to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty violations and improve coordination between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice.
✅ Signed the bipartisan congressional letter opposing the large-scale killing of barred owls.
✅ Signed congressional letter opposing the SOB Act that would erode states’ rights, undermine family farmers, and expand foreign influence over U.S. food production.
✅ Supported House passage of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, H.R. 2821, which passed by voice vote under suspension of the rules on July 20, 2026. The bipartisan legislation directs the FDA to update its regulations to fully implement the 2022 law allowing scientifically valid non-animal methods to be used instead of animal testing in drug development.
✅ Voted “Nay” on H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (House Roll Call Vote 93), to prohibit federal land management agencies from restricting the use of toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on public lands and waters to protect wildlife from poisoning. The bill passed the House 215–202. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal vote.
✅ Voted “Nay” on H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (House Roll Call Vote 360), to remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across much of the United States and restricted judicial review of future wolf management decisions. The bill passed the House 211–204. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
✅ Voted “Nay” on the Riley Moore Amendment to H.R. 7567 (House Roll Call Vote 149), to weaken the Farm Bill’s Greyhound Protection Act provisions by creating a special exemption allowing commercial greyhound racing to continue in West Virginia indefinitely. The House rejected the amendment 187–237. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
✅ Voted “Nay” on H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act (House Roll Call Vote 154), to pass the Farm Bill, which included a provision to overturn state laws in California and Massachusetts restricting in-state sales of fresh pork sourced from farms that do not provide minimum space requirements for the housing of pregnant pigs. The bill passed the House 224–200. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
✅ Voted “Nay” on the Biggs Amendment to H.R. 3838 (House Roll Call Vote 259), to exempt defense-related activities from the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, eliminating protections for endangered and threatened species and their critical habitat on military lands and during defense operations. The House rejected the amendment 200–228. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
✅ Voted “Nay” on the Greene Amendment to H.R. 3838 (House Roll Call Vote 254), to prohibit the Department of Defense from using FY2026 funds for the research, development, procurement, or promotion of cell-cultured meat, an emerging alternative to conventional slaughter-based meat production. The House rejected the amendment 194–236, with 1 voting present. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
116th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety (HISA) Act, H.R. 1754, to improve the integrity and safety of horse racing in the United States by creating uniform national standards for anti-doping, medication control, and racetrack safety.
✅ Cosponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, H.R. 1380, to prohibit private ownership and breeding of lions, tigers, and other big cats while restricting public contact with these dangerous wild animals. The bill was designed to curb the exploitation of big cats in roadside zoos and cub-petting operations, improve animal welfare, and enhance public safety by limiting private possession of these species.
✅ Voted “Aye” on the H.R. 1380 – Big Cat Public Safety Act (House Roll Call Vote 232), legislation to prohibit private ownership and breeding of lions, tigers, and other big cats while restricting public contact with these dangerous wild animals. The bill was designed to curb the exploitation of big cats in roadside zoos and cub-petting operations, improve animal welfare, and enhance public safety by limiting private possession of these species. The House passed the bill 272–114. An “Aye” vote is the pro-animal position.
✅ Voted “Aye” on the Stevens Amendment (House Roll Call Vote 373) to the FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, allocating $2 million to create an Animal Cruelty section within the Department of Justice. An “Aye” vote is the pro-animal position because it supports stronger federal enforcement of existing animal protection laws.
✅ Voted “Aye” on the Buchanan Amendment (House Roll Call Vote 380) to the FY2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, prohibiting the Department of the Interior from issuing import permits for trophies of threatened elephant and lions from Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. An “Aye” vote is the pro-animal position because it supports stronger protections for threatened wildlife by restricting the import of hunting trophies.