Tenure: 113th – 119th Congresses
Years of Service: 2013–Present
Notable Actions
119th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, S. 1454, to strengthen federal enforcement against animal fighting and related criminal activity.
✅ Lead sponsor of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, S. 355, to direct the FDA to update its regulations consistent with a law passed by Congress in 2022 that made animal testing optional in new drug development.
✅ Cosponsor of the Kangaroo Protection Act, S. 2162, to stop the U.S. sale of commercial products made with kangaroo skins and other kangaroo parts.
✅ Cosponsor of the Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches (FISCAL) Act, S. 1236, to give kids access to a plant-based milk option in the National School Lunch Program, in addition to the existing cow's milk offerings.
✅ Cosponsored the Puppy Protection Act, S. 4437, 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.
118th Congress
✅ Lead sponsor of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, S. 1529, to strengthen federal enforcement against animal fighting and related criminal activity.
✅ Cosponsor of the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, S. 2037, to ban U.S.-based horse slaughter and the export of horses for slaughter for human consumption.
✅ Lead sponsor of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, S. 5046, to direct the FDA to update its regulations consistent with a law passed by Congress in 2022 that made animal testing optional in new drug development.
✅ Cosponsor of the Kangaroo Protection Act, S. 5118, to stop the U.S. sale of commercial products made with kangaroo skins and other kangaroo parts.
✅ Cosponsor of the ADD SOY Act, S. 2943, to give kids access to a plant-based milk option in the National School Lunch Program, in addition to the existing cow's milk offerings.
✅ Cosponsored the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, S. 4004, 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.
117th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, S. 1210, 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
✅ Cosponsor of the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, S. 2295, to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act and help end the cruel practice of "soring" Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. Soring involves intentionally inflicting severe pain on horses' legs and hooves through caustic chemicals, chains, pressure devices, or other abusive methods to force an exaggerated, high-stepping gait known as the "Big Lick."
✅ Lead sponsor of the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, S. 1106, to end the U.S. commercial trade in shark fins by prohibiting their sale, purchase, and transport, helping reduce the global demand that drives the cruel practice of shark finning. Core provisions of the bill were later incorporated into the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which was signed into law in December 2022, making the United States one of the world's largest nations to ban the domestic shark fin trade.
116th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, S. 2561, 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.
FDA Modernization Act 2.0 (Co-Lead, Passed into Law) – Eliminated outdated animal testing mandates for new drug development.
Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act (Lead, Passed into Law) – Banned the domestic sale or export of shark fins for soup.
2018 Agricultural Imrpovement Act Provisions (Lead, Passed into Law) – Applied the federal law against dogfighting and cockfighting to all U.S. territories.
2016 Toxic Substances Control Act Provisions (Lead, Passed into Law) – Made animal testing a last resort when it comes to safety testing for thousands of chemicals in the commercial marketplace.