Tenure: 118th–119th Congresses
Years of Service: 2023–Present
Rep. Robert Garcia has developed a consistently favorable record on animal protection issues during his time in Congress. Although he is best known for his work on government oversight, transportation, housing, and urban policy, Garcia has repeatedly supported major animal welfare priorities and aligned himself with efforts to strengthen protections for horses, wildlife, farm animals, and animals used in research. His record reflects a lawmaker who may not specialize in animal policy but who has consistently sided with humane treatment and animal protection when those issues have come before Congress.
One of the most significant examples of Garcia’s support for animal welfare is his cosponsorship 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 animal protection movement’s most important federal priorities and has long been viewed as the leading vehicle for permanently ending the horse slaughter pipeline.
Garcia has also been a consistent defender of state animal welfare laws. He signed the congressional letter opposing the EATS Act, which sought to invalidate state laws such as California’s Proposition 12 by restricting states’ ability to establish production standards for agricultural products sold within their borders. He later signed the Democratic congressional letter opposing the Save Our Bacon Act, which pursued many of the same objectives through the Farm Bill process. By opposing both measures, Garcia supported states’ authority to enact humane treatment standards and resisted federal efforts to roll back voter-approved animal welfare protections.
In addition, Garcia has engaged on issues involving animals used in research. He signed the congressional letter to the National Institutes of Health supporting efforts to wind down the use of non-human primates in federally funded research facilities and accelerate the development of modern, more ethical alternatives. The letter reflected growing bipartisan interest in reducing reliance on animal testing where scientifically valid alternatives exist and encouraging a transition toward more humane and innovative research methods.
Garcia’s voting record on major animal protection issues has been consistently favorable. He 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 harm to wildlife species affected by lead poisoning.
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 phase out commercial greyhound racing and reflected support for broader efforts to combat animal exploitation.
On food-system innovation, Garcia 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.
Garcia 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 EATS and Save Our Bacon and reflected a consistent commitment to preserving state animal welfare protections.
What stands out about Garcia’s record is its consistency across multiple issue areas. His support extends beyond a single category of animal protection and includes horse welfare, farm-animal welfare, wildlife conservation, and efforts to reduce reliance on animal testing. While he has not built the extensive legislative portfolio of some of Congress’s most active animal protection champions, he has repeatedly aligned himself with major animal welfare priorities and has shown a willingness to engage when those issues arise.
Taken as a whole, Garcia’s record places him in the Strong Leader category. His support for the SAFE Act, opposition to EATS and Save Our Bacon, engagement on reducing primate research, and consistently favorable voting record make him a dependable and effective ally on many of the animal protection movement’s most important priorities.
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 Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 1684, to strengthen enforcement against the cruel practice of soring horses. The bill would ban devices associated with soring, require independent USDA-trained inspectors, increase penalties for violations, and strengthen the Horse Protection Act to better protect Tennessee Walking Horses and other affected breeds from intentional abuse.
✅ 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 congressional letter opposing the SOB Act that would erode states’ rights, undermine family farmers, and expand foreign influence over U.S. food production.
✅ Signed a congressional letter opposing the EATS/SOB Act that would erode states’ rights, undermine family farmers, and expand foreign influence over U.S. food production.
✅ Signed a bipartisan congressional letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, urging the agency to redirect federal funds currently allocated for non-human primate (NHP) research centers toward more ethical and cost-effective uses.
✅ Voted “Aye” on the Van Drew–Titus Amendment (Recorded Vote No. 98-pg. 46) to H.R. 8870 (Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Vote), to incorporate key provisions of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act into the Build America 250 Act. The bipartisan amendment would permanently prohibit the export of American horses to Canada, Mexico, or other countries for slaughter for human consumption and ban the use of dangerous double-decker trailers to transport horses. The amendment was adopted by a 34–30 vote. An “Aye” vote is the pro-animal position because it advanced legislation to end the slaughter pipeline for American horses.
✅ 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.
118th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, H.R. 2742, to strengthen federal enforcement against animal fighting and related criminal activity.
✅ Cosponsor of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 3475, to ban U.S.-based horse slaughter and the export of horses for slaughter for human consumption.
✅ Cosponsor of the Puppy Protection Act, H.R. 1624, 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 Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 3090, bipartisan legislation to strengthen enforcement against the cruel practice of soring horses. The bill would ban devices associated with soring, require independent USDA-trained inspectors, increase penalties for violations, and strengthen the Horse Protection Act to better protect Tennessee Walking Horses and other affected breeds from intentional abuse.
✅ Cosponsor of the Better CARE for Animals Act, H.R. 5041, 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 a bipartisan letter opposing the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, H.R. 4417. The lawmakers warned that the bill would nullify state agriculture and animal-welfare laws, including California’s Prop 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3, and could broadly undermine more than 1,000 state laws while targeting modest consumer demand for more humanely raised pork.
✅ Voted “Nay” on H.R. 764 (House Roll Call Vote 169), legislation to remove federal protections for gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act across most of the United States and return management authority to the states. Wildlife advocates warned that the bill would undermine science-based wildlife management and threaten the long-term recovery of gray wolf populations. The House passed the bill 209–205. A “Nay” vote is the pro-animal position.
❌ Voted “Aye” on H.R. 615 (House Roll Call Vote 167), legislation to bar the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from prohibiting or regulating the use of toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters made available for hunting or fishing. Lead ammunition and tackle poison wildlife, including eagles, loons, condors, and other animals that ingest spent lead fragments or lost fishing gear. The House passed the bill 214–201. An “Aye” vote is the anti-animal position because it blocked federal agencies from restricting toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle that poison eagles, loons, condors, and other wildlife.