Press Room

Industry-founded coalition scores major win over animal rights and eco terrorism with landmark law

Arlington, November 16, 2007 - The American Feed Industry Association
(AFIA) applauded yesterday’s unanimous approval by the House of
Representatives of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), S.
3880. House action followed approval by the Senate on September
30. The bill now goes to the President who is expected to sign it.

AFIA, a founding member of the Farm Animal Welfare Coalition (FAWC),
an ad hoc Washington, DC coalition of the nation’s largest feed,
farmer, rancher and biotechnology groups, played a key role in
promoting the landmark legislation. FAWC was joined by 175 national,
regional and state agricultural and science organizations along with
related animal industry groups across the country.

AFIA President Joel Newman congratulated Congress on passage of the
legislation, calling it “a tremendous step forward in dealing with
one the nation’s greatest domestic terrorist threats—animal rights
and environmental extremism.” Newman said, “AETA was sorely needed
to provide law enforcement with additional tools to protect U.S.
agriculture and science from violence by radical animal activists.”

The new legislation closes gaps in existing law and holds accountable
those who intentionally disrupt or damage agricultural production and
injure or intimidate those involved in it.”

Drafted with assistance from federal counterterrorism experts, AETA
amends the federal criminal code to deal with increased radical
animal rights and eco-terrorists violence. It extends protections
for “animal enterprises” (housing and facilities legitimately using
animals) to individuals, businesses and agencies, such as farmers,
scientists, biomedical and biotechnology industries, research
universities, teaching hospitals, financial institutions and other
lawful commercial enterprises related to animal use. The legislation
provides penalties for intentional economic damage and for causing
bodily harm or placing an individual in reasonable fear of death or
bodily harm.

Contrary to allegations by animal rights groups opposing the bill,
the legislation does not in any way threaten First Amendment rights,
and, in fact, explicitly protects all legal assembly, demonstrations
and other legal public expression.

Besides agriculture and food production, broad support for the
legislation included many organizations contributing to high
standards of well being for animals. Among them were organizations
representing biomedical research, universities, entertainment,
exhibitions, education, clothing and recreation.

AFIA is the only national organization devoted exclusively to
representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of
the total feed industry. Membership includes 550 domestic and
international companies; state, national and regional associations.
Firms are feed manufacturers, integrators, pharmaceutical companies,
ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers and companies which
supply other products, services and supplies to feed manufacturers.

For additional information, contact AFIA, 1501 Wilson Boulevard,
Suite 1100, Arlington, Va. 22209. Tel: 703/524-0810. Fax:
703/524-1921. Internet: www.afia.org

	Industry-founded coalition scores major win over animal rights and eco terrorism with landmark lawl
	Industry-founded coalition scores major win over animal rights and eco terrorism with landmark law