Joyce, Ciscomani, Neguse, Cohen Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Animal Cruelty

WASHINGTON D.C. –Today, Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Steve Cohen (TN-09) reintroduced the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, bipartisan legislation designed to ensure better protection of animals and keep our communities safe. The bill would establish a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Section at the Department of Justice to aid in the investigation, enforcement, and prosecution of animal cruelty crimes.

“As a life-long pet owner who considers our dog, Sam, part of the family, I am devastated by the prevalence of animal cruelty in our communities,” said Congressman Joyce. “We must hold these criminals who commit these crimes of animal cruelty accountable and ensure our beloved pets are protected to the fullest extent. By creating a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes section within the Department of Justice, the ACE Act will do just that by improving the federal government’s ability to crack down on animal cruelty and hold perpetrators accountable in a timely, efficient manner.”

“As a dog owner, I know that our animals are more than pets, they’re part of our family, and animal cruelty has no place in our society,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “It is crucial that our law enforcement has the resources and authority to hold anyone who commits these egregious actions accountable to the full extent of the law. I’m proud to support the bipartisan Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act to create a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes division at the Department of Justice to strengthen investigation and prosecution of these heinous crimes.”

“Having laws to prevent animal cruelty is important, but ensuring they are enforced is essential.  The ACE Act will establish a dedicated division of the Department of Justice to ensure that happens, preventing cruelty to wild animals, pets and farm animals. I am pleased to join Representative Joyce on this important measure,” said Congressman Cohen, a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. 

BACKGROUND: 

Studies repeatedly show that there is a close link between animal cruelty and violence toward people. By bringing charges against perpetrators of animal cruelty crimes, we can prevent individuals with a propensity for violence from further harming animals or turning that violence against their fellow human-beings.

While all 50 states currently have laws in place to prohibit animal cruelty, Department of Justice enforcement of these laws continues to see lengthy delays, with many federal crimes going unprosecuted completely. A dedicated division at the Department of Justice, provided through the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act, would facilitate stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws by providing specialized knowledge and a streamlined process for handling these offenses.

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