As I previewed a few months ago, the Humane Society of the United States held its 2024 Taking Action for Animals Conference in Arlington, Va., earlier this summer. It was divided into a series of sessions/workshops with a heavy focus on using legislation to advance the animal rights movement, as well as defending “animal protection” measures already in place. Speakers claimed that pets and farm animals are under “threat,” and that local and state politics are where activists could potentially have the biggest impact since federal lawmakers are not as “accessible.” Many speakers highlighted the “political divide” and suggested ways that activists can “navigate” partisanship. Much of the conference focused on preparing attendees for a “Humane Lobby Day” held at the end of the conference. HSUS staff claimed that more than 150 activists attended this lobbying event on Capitol Hill.

The Animal Agriculture Alliance put together a report from the conference for our members, summarizing the key topics and takeaways. We believe that it is essential for the animal agriculture community to be aware of what is going on in animal rights activism so we have a better understanding of how farmers and ranchers are being targeted and how we can effectively communicate with stakeholders — including legislators. We flagged the following important discussions from the conference for the animal agriculture community to take note of:

Multiple sessions focused on positioning animal issues are “truly bipartisan,” as they can bring people together no matter their political affiliation. “Amidst this political divide, the humane treatment of animals unites us all,” said a speaker from HSUS. “It crosses party lines, it crosses ideological differences, and it truly is bipartisan.”

Extreme claims were made about animal welfare, including that animals like pigs, veal calves, and egg-laying hens are facing “abusive confinement conditions.”

Significant focus on Proposition 12 and pushing back on efforts to change or overturn it. Claims were made that recent polls show 80% of voters say that they want a law, such as Prop 12, in their state that bans “extreme confinement.” The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act (EATS Act) and language in versions of the proposed Farm Bill are “dangerous” to the animal rights movement. Speakers alleged that if the EATS Act or most recent Farm Bill draft were to pass, that it would block the passing of laws regulating any agricultural products sold in the states and potentially wipe out “hundreds of state bills” across the country. One HSUS staff member stated, “I also want to acknowledge the reality, and that is that animals are facing an enormous threat right now, and so much of the progress made for farm animal welfare is at the risk of being rolled back. It’s one of the biggest fights that we’ve ever been involved with.”

Strategies for influencing legislators to support animal rights were shared. Speakers recommended forming “personal relationships” with legislators and meeting with them in person during recesses. It was also stated that it is just as important to find the right staff members to speak with on animal issues as it is to find the right legislators.

State and local policies were positioned as much more “powerful avenues” to pass animal protection legislation, so activists were encouraged to focus efforts there. “I can’t think of very many ways you can have more of an impact on the lives of individual animals on a big scale than working on state legislation,” said an HSUS staff member.

While the Alliance is not a lobbying organization, we’re hopeful that companies and organizations in animal agriculture who are politically engaged will take heed of the messages shared at this conference. From the local level all the way up, legislative challenges to animal agriculture are going to keep coming, and we must be prepared and build the necessary relationships now to ensure our perspectives are heard.

HSUS encourages followers to 'take action for animals' starting at local level

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