Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Blocks Vote on P.A.C.T Act - National Humane Education Society

Paws Down!

To U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for blocking a vote on the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (P.A.C.T.) Act.

Last fall, NHES wrote about an important new piece of legislation drafted to penalize the makers of “crushing videos.” In these deplorable films, small animals including rabbits, kittens, and puppies are intentionally tortured or stomped to death on film. The films are then sold to buyers online. There is already a federal statute in effect that allows federal charges against those who sell the videos.  If the P.A.C.T Act were to pass, human participants in the films could also be charged under federal law, in addition to the laws of their states. Those found guilty would receive a felony conviction, and could face seven years in prison. This bill is largely bipartisan, with sponsors on both sides of the aisle. It was even co-authored by  Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), a republican, and Senator Richard Bluementhal (D-Conn), a democrat.

To expedite a decision on this non-controversial anti-cruelty bill, Senator Toomey proposed a vote on the bill so that it might be passed through unanimous consent, meaning that the bill would go up for vote and would require unanimous support in the Senate in order to pass. Unfortunately, thanks to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, the bill will not have the chance. Senator Reid did not cite any objection to provisions in the bill, but instead blocked the vote, stating that a the issue of selecting Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, should come first.

Take action. Contact Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and urge him to allow a vote on the P.A.C.T. Act.