Congressman praised for leadership linking animal welfare, public safety, states’ rights, and responsible wildlife stewardship
Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political advocacy organization dedicated to advancing humane treatment of animals through strong public policy, today announced its endorsement of Rep. Lance Gooden in the Republican primary election in March 2026 [ZB1] for Texas’ 5th congressional district.
“Congressman Lance Gooden is truly one of the strongest leaders on animal welfare in the entire Congress,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “He understands that protecting animals goes hand in hand with protecting communities, upholding states’ rights, combating organized crime, and ensuring responsible stewardship of wildlife.”
Rep. Gooden has built a record of principled and consistent leadership on some of the most pressing animal welfare and public safety issues before Congress. Animal Wellness Action especially commends his co-sponsorship of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act (H.R. 3946), critical legislation to strengthen federal enforcement against dogfighting and cockfighting—violent enterprises closely tied to illicit gambling, money laundering, drug trafficking, and cross-border animal smuggling.
The organization also praised Rep. Gooden for being an original co-sponsor of the No Flight, No Fight Act (H.R. 7371), legislation designed to halt the export of American-raised fighting birds to die in overseas fighting pits, particularly in the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries. “The United States should not be the world’s biggest supplier of fighting animals,” Pacelle said.
Rep. Gooden has further demonstrated leadership by co-sponsoring the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684), which strengthens the Horse Protection Act, enhances penalties, improves USDA enforcement, and aims to finally end the abusive practice of horse soring.
Animal Wellness Action is also deeply grateful for Rep. Gooden’s outspoken opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan to kill nearly half a million native barred owls. He signed two bipartisan letters warning Interior Department leadership that the so-called “Barred Owl Management Strategy” would authorize owl killings across 24 million acres, including 14 national parks and 17 national forests—undermining wildlife conservation, harming visitor experiences, and wasting up to $1.35 billion on an ineffective and scientifically unsound program. His co-sponsorship of H.J. Res. 111, a Congressional Review Act resolution to nullify the owl-killing rule, underscores his commitment to evidence-based conservation, fiscal responsibility, and respect for long-standing protections such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Finally, Animal Wellness Action applauds Rep. Gooden’s leadership in opposing the Save Our Bacon Act, legislation that would override voter-approved state farm animal welfare laws, trample states’ rights, and further entrench foreign influence—particularly China’s growing control—over America’s domestic pork industry. His stance reflects a strong commitment to American family farmers, humane housing standards, and constitutional governance.
“Cruelty toward animals is often intertwined with violence, corruption, and broader social harm,” Pacelle added. “Congressman Gooden recognizes these connections and has shown the courage to act.”
Animal Wellness Action urges Republican primary voters in Texas’ 5th congressional district who value public safety, states’ rights, fiscal responsibility, and humane, commonsense policies to support Rep. Lance Gooden in the March 2026 primary election.
The full endorsement letter for Rep. Fletcher can be found here.