Tenure: 119th Congress
Years of Service: 2025–Present
Rep. Lateefah Simon is one of the newest members of Congress, having been elected in 2024 to represent California’s 12th Congressional District. As a freshman member, she has not yet had the opportunity to build the extensive legislative record possessed by more senior lawmakers. Nevertheless, the record she has established thus far reflects strong support for animal protection priorities and alignment with many of the issues most important to the animal protection movement.
Because Simon’s congressional tenure is still in its earliest stages, her profile is shaped primarily by her voting record and early legislative activity. Unlike longer-serving members who have accumulated years of sponsorships and committee work, Simon’s classification is based on the positions she has taken on the major animal-related issues that have come before the House during the 119th Congress.
On wildlife protection, Simon voted against H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which would remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across much of the United States. She 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. Lead poisoning continues to pose a serious threat to condors, eagles, loons, swans, and other wildlife species, making the vote an important indicator of support for wildlife conservation.
Simon also voted against the Greene Amendment, which sought to prohibit federal support for cultivated meat and related technologies. Cultivated meat has the potential to reduce reliance on conventional animal agriculture and decrease the number of animals raised and slaughtered for food. Her opposition to the amendment reflected support for continued innovation in technologies that could reduce animal suffering while expanding consumer choice.
On farm-animal welfare, Simon led the Democratic letter opposing the Save Our Bacon Act, which would preempt state farm-animal welfare laws such as California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3. She subsequently voted against the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, helping to defend state authority to establish humane standards for agricultural products and protect some of the most significant animal welfare laws enacted in the United States.
Beyond these votes, Simon’s broader political background suggests a strong affinity for issues involving social justice, environmental protection, and public health. While animal welfare has not yet emerged as a major legislative focus, many of the values that have shaped her public service align closely with concerns about humane treatment, environmental stewardship, and responsible public policy.
At this early stage of her congressional career, there is limited evidence of major animal-specific legislative leadership, such as sponsorship or cosponsorship of significant animal protection bills. That fact distinguishes her from more established champions who have accumulated years of legislative engagement on behalf of animals. However, her voting record has been consistently favorable, and there is no indication of support for legislation that would weaken animal protections.
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 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.
✅ Cosponsor of the Captive Primate Safety Act, H.R. 3199, to prohibit the private ownership, breeding, sale, transport, and other commercial activities involving nonhuman primates by amending the Lacey Act, while exempting accredited zoos, sanctuaries, research facilities, and certain other qualified entities. The legislation is designed to protect both public safety and the welfare of highly intelligent primates by ending the commercial pet trade in these animals.
✅ Cosponsor of Goldie’s Act, H.R. 349, bipartisan legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by requiring more frequent inspections, faster reporting of violations, and improved protections for animals suffering abuse or neglect.
✅ 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.
➖ Did Not Vote 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.