I spoke with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) at Taking Action for Animals, after he addressed the crowd at the Saturday evening banquet. Blumenauer was named 2007 Humane Legislator of the Year by The Humane Society of the United States for his work on a variety of issues, including co-authoring the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act which became law in the spring of 2007. In his speech at the banquet, Blumenauer thanked the crowd for being “the most critical, powerful unsung voice in the public policy drama today.” He noted that the public is now “connecting the dots between animals, the environment, the economy, the government and ourselves.”
How did you become interested in animal issues?
They just started surfacing as I came to Congress. Issues emerged like leghold traps. I had been deeply concerned about factory farming for a long time, and particularly animal fighting, which is something that I was not aware of, the depth of that, and it just sort of pulled me in. The more I got involved, the more I saw these other connections that I talked about this evening, and just discovered how much sense it made and how hard it was, but really rewarding work. Really rewarding work. These are amazing people (indicating conference attendees) who are so motivated.
Which are the most important animal bills pending in Congress right now?
For me, the issues that are facing us deal with trying to change the subsidization that we have of industrial farming. I mean, the problems that we have with confined animals, feedlots, how we’re actually subsidizing and rewarding people to be involved with agricultural practices that I think are animal abuse. They’re human abuse, as well. To me, this is the focus. That’s my most important priority. It’s why I’m so interested in what’s happening in California. And I’m trying to work now on the next Farm Bill.
When you say “in California,” you’re referring to Proposition 2 (a November, 2008 ballot initiative that would eliminate battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates in California)?
Yes.
How important is grassroots lobbying?
Oh, it’s absolutely essential. It’s what has really fueled this movement around the country and it’s going to be necessary to really change our priorities, because there are amazingly powerful vested interests. I’ve watched this in ways that were surprising to me as we’ve worked with downed animals, we’ve worked with animal fighting. The grassroots, person to person connection is powerful and it’s growing. These are not big economic interests that are moving these activities around the country. These are ordinary citizens who care.
