Tenure: 115th–119th Congresses
Years of Service: 2009–Present
Notable Actions
119th Congress
✅ Cosponsor of the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, S. 775, 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, S. 1454, to strengthen federal enforcement against animal fighting and related criminal activity.
✅ Lead sponsor of Canyon’s Law, S. 2179, bipartisan legislation to ban the use of M–44 "cyanide bombs" on federal public lands. The bill would protect pets, wildlife, and people from these indiscriminate sodium cyanide devices and require their removal from lands managed by federal agencies.
✅ 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
✅ Cosponsor of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, S. 1529, to strengthen federal enforcement against animal fighting and related criminal activity.
✅ 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."
✅ Cosponsored 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 Horseracing Integrity and Safety (HISA) Act, S. 4547, 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, 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.