Congressman praised for leadership confronting organized animal cruelty and strengthening law enforcement protections
Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing legal protections for animals, today announced its endorsement of Rep. Nathaniel Moran in the Republican primary election in March 2026 for Texas’ 1st Congressional District.
“Congressman Nathaniel Moran has stepped up to confront the most malicious forms of animal cruelty while strengthening public safety and respect for the rule of law,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “His leadership reflects a deep moral commitment and a clear understanding that protecting animals and protecting communities go hand in hand.”
Since taking office in January 2023, Rep. Moran has emerged as a strong advocate for pro-law enforcement, pro-border security, and pro-animal welfare policies. Animal Wellness Action especially commends his co-sponsorship of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act (H.R. 3946), legislation that strengthens federal enforcement against dogfighting and cockfighting—barbaric enterprises closely linked to illicit gambling, money laundering, drug trafficking, and the smuggling of animals across the southern border for use in fighting ventures.
Rep. Moran’s support for the FIGHT Act reflects a serious commitment to disrupting Mexican drug cartels and affiliated organized criminal networks while protecting families, pets, and communities in Texas and across the nation.
Animal Wellness Action also looks forward to continuing to work with Rep. Moran to advance additional commonsense measures to improve enforcement of federal animal cruelty laws. These include the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act (H.R. 1477), which would establish a dedicated team of prosecutors within the U.S. Department of Justice focused exclusively on animal cruelty crimes, and the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce (FBI ACT) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3683), which would create a specialized task force within the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate and prosecute dogfighting, cockfighting, crush videos, and related violent offenses. Together, these measures would significantly strengthen the nation’s capacity to confront animal cruelty that so often overlaps with other serious crimes.
“A profound respect for animals is a value shared by Americans across the political spectrum,” Pacelle added. “When we stand against cruelty, we not only uphold basic standards of decency, but we also help make our communities safer for families and children.”
Animal Wellness Action applauds Rep. Moran’s willingness to take principled stands on behalf of animals, public safety, and the rule of law. The organization urges Republican primary voters in Texas’ 1st Congressional District who care about strong enforcement, moral leadership, and humane, commonsense policies to support Rep. Nathaniel Moran in the March 2026 primary election.
The full endorsement letter for Rep. Moran can be found HERE.