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MAY 23, 2019

THANK YOU! MORE GREAT NEWS!



4 SCIL SPONSORED BILLS SUCCESSFULLY VOTED ON THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR TODAY!

PRESS RELEASES BELOW

Please Note that Vote Counts are still Preliminary until the end of today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY PASSES BAN ON SALE OF CERTAIN EXOTIC ANIMAL SKINS WITH A VOTE OF 61-12

 

AB 1260 to reduce California’s role in global animal cruelty

                                                                                                                       

THURSDAY, MAY 23 ^RD , 2019 – SACRAMENTO – The sweeping package of animal protection bills moving through the California legislature continued today, with the State Assembly extending California’s global leadership against the cruel and unnecessary use of animal skins. AB 1260 (Maienschein) will ban the sale of skins from certain previously unprotected exotic animals, from hippos to iguanas.

                  

“By reducing our participation in the exotic skin trade, California is saying that fashion isn’t more important than justice,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation, sponsor of the legislation and several other bills on animal protection, rights and welfare.

Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego), author of AB 1260, continued, “California has long been a leader in protecting animals, and it’s been illegal to sell the skins of many endangered animals here for decades. As our ecosystem continues to face threats, we need to keep this list up to date.”

“Animals have a far greater need for their skin than we do, and in a world where high-quality synthetics and plant-based materials exist, there is no need to kill a hippo for a pair of boots. We thank for the California State Assembly for their 61-12 vote today.” Mancuso added.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WIN FOR RAINFORESTS: CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL REQUIRING STATE CONTRACTORS NOT ENGAGE IN TROPICAL DEFORESTATION WITH A VOTE OF 57-17

 

With species and forests disappearing around the world, AB 572 more needed than ever

                                                                                                                       

THURSDAY, MAY 23 ^RD , 2019 – SACRAMENTO – The California State Assembly voted today to require all state contractors develop and abide by an anti-deforestation policy to protect tropical rainforests around the world, part of this legislative sessions sweeping package of environmental and animal rights legislation.

                  

“State contractors providing palm oil and other tropical forest-risk commodities have sustainable and unsustainable sources to choose from – but we as residents and taxpayers can’t leave that decision up to the lowest bidder,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation, co-sponsor of the legislation and several other bills on animal rights, protection and welfare. “We need to stand up and say our rainforests matter, and Californians do not want to indirectly contribute to their destruction.”

Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), author of AB 572, continued, “We can’t say we’re a pro-environment state if we let rainforests be destroyed around the world. California must have no part in deforestation, and I want to thank my colleagues for standing with me to protect these fragile ecosystems and the animals that live in them.”

“When a rainforest is gone it’s gone! Extinction is forever and we need to do all that we can to protect and save our rainforests which house millions of species. We thank the California State Assembly for their 57-17 vote today," Mancuso added.

AB 572 passed the same week that the State Assembly passed bills to incentivize vegan lunch options in K-12 schools, to ban the sale of certain exotic animal skins, and to modernize testing of hazardous waste. The California State Senate also took steps to ban the captivity of animals in circuses and to end the restrictive policy of commercial closed-colony (caged) animal blood banks. All of these bills were sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL TO INCENTIVIZE PLANT-BASED SCHOOL LUNCH OPTIONS

WITH A VOTE OF 61-12

 

AB 479 to reduce carbon footprint and respect pro-animal stance of young Californians

                                                                                                                       

THURSDAY, MAY 23 ^RD , 2019 – SACRAMENTO – Continuing a banner week that saw the California Senate pass both a ban on the cruel practice of forcing animals to perform in circuses and a bill to end the restrictive policy of commercial closed colony (caged) animal blood banks, the State Assembly passed a bill incentivizing schools to offer cruelty-free, plant-based lunch and milk options to K-12 students. AB 479 (Nazarian) will reduce the carbon footprint of our schools – vegan meals produce far fewer greenhouse gasses – and respect the growing culture of cruelty-free eating common among today’s youth.

                  

“This bill does what scientists and climate experts know we must do, which is cut our reliance on polluting and cruel animal-based meals,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation, sponsor of the legislation and several other bills on animal rights, protection, and welfare. “By incentivizing options for the growing number of vegetarian/vegan progressive young people in our state, the California Assembly took a compassionate common-sense step today. We thank the California State Assembly for their 61-12 vote today.”

“More and more of today’s children are choosing to live a plant-based lifestyle, because they know it’s the best way to reduce their carbon footprint – and, frankly, young people are the ones who will have to live with the consequences,” added Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys), author of AB 479. “This bill helps them have the option to live their values even at school. I want to thank my colleagues for their support.”

“This has been a tremendous year for animals in the California legislature, but we're only half way through,” Mancuso said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IN KEEPING WITH LATEST SCIENCE, CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL TO END OUTDATED, ANIMAL-KILLING HAZARDOUS WASTE TEST WITH A VOTE OF 74-0

 

AB 733 directs Department of Toxic Substance Control to implement modern methods

                                                                                                                       

THURSDAY, MAY 23 ^RD , 2019 – SACRAMENTO – California has some of the strictest standards on hazardous waste in the world, but current law requires that waste be tested using a method that has long stopped being the industry standard. Currently, live fish are placed in wastewater – and if they die, the water is deemed hazardous. That bizarre practice is finally closer to changing, as the California Assembly has passed AB 733 (Quirk) to require the Department of Toxic Substance Control to implement modern methods like those used around the world.

                  

“The live vertebrate fish test, where a fish is essentially choked to death in toxic waste, isn’t just cruel – it’s antiquated, and out of sync with scientific consensus,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation, sponsor of the legislation and several other bills on animal rights, protection and welfare. “Other methods are already in use around the world, and there’s no reason for California to lag behind. We thank the California State Assembly for their unanimous 74-0 vote today".

Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), author of AB 733, continued, “The current law requires our state to engage in a practice that no ethical or modern brand in the private-sector would ever consider using. I want to thank my colleagues in the Assembly for moving this bill – and our state – forward.”

The passage of AB 733 comes the same week that the State Assembly passed bills to incentivize vegan lunch options in K-12 schools and to ban the sale of certain exotic animal skins, and that the California State Senate took steps to ban the captivity of animals in circuses.

“California has always been a leader on doing what’s right for animals and the environment,” Mancuso added, “and this week is showing that commitment hasn’t changed and is rock solid.”

Thank you for making the calls and signing up for our support letters. In order to get legislation successfully passed requires many components:

Together we are changing the world in animal welfare, protection, and rights. Please make a donation today to help us keep going. We are only half way through the legislative process for 2019.

Gratefully yours,

Judie Mancuso

Founder/CEO/President

Social Compassion in Legislation