The new Congress is in full swing, bringing with it many fresh challenges and opportunities. This year, I hope our federal lawmakers will harness the opportunity to protect America’s equines, dogs and farmed animals from cruelty and abuse. According to multiple studies, most Americans are passionate about animal welfare, but efforts to pass responsive legislation have lagged. Countless dogs trapped in the cruel puppy mill industry continue to suffer without adequate oversight, while thousands of American equines are still being shipped across our borders and brutally slaughtered. At the same time, industrial animal agriculture corporations are engaging in risky and inhumane practices without proper accountability. And yet, public dollars continue to be funneled to these large-scale operations over sustainable, higher-welfare farms. Past legislation like Goldie’s Act and the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act could help address these issues. I hope my legislators, Sen. Shaheen, Sen. Hassan and Rep. Goodlander, will co-sponsor these bills when they’re reintroduced, and I hope they’ll oppose dangerous legislation like the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act. These actions could transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals, consumers, farmers and farm workers, and horse owners. The public has spoken — now it’s time for Congress to act.

Lauren Martin

Amherst