Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, animal torture videos are heinous, barbaric, and completely unacceptable, and we must stop them once and for all. It's hard to believe that this sort of thing even exists, and that a new law is needed to prevent it. Animal torture is outrageously disturbing, and common decency and morality dictates that those engaged in it should not be profiting from it. They should be in prison.

This is why I have introduced H.R. 5566, along with Representatives Gallegly and Moran, the Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010. This legislation will ban the sale or distribution of so-called crush videos, depictions of small animals being tortured and slowly crushed to death, and other videos depicting abhorrent animal torture. Our bill responds to the Supreme Court's recent holding that a 1999 statute banning crush videos was overbroad, and therefore invalid under the First Amendment. H.R. 5566 carefully parses and responds to the Stevens decision, and it is written to survive another round of judicial review if challenged after enactment.

I appreciate the leadership of my colleagues, Representatives Gallegly, Moran, and Blumenauer, on animal protection issues generally, and specifically on animal crush legislation. As cochairs of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, of which I am a member, Representatives Moran and Gallegly are committed to advancing commonsense animal protection legislation.

I would also like to thank the Humane Society for their help throughout the drafting process, and for all of their tireless animal protection efforts. Finally, I would like to thank Chairman Conyers, Chairman Scott, and the members of the Judiciary Committee for their commitment to advancing this necessary, commonsense legislation. I urge its passage.

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