AWI Quarterly Term Archive

Government/Legal

Bad Sportsmen’s Act Advances

The second session of the 114th Congress opened in January. On the 20th of the month, despite strong minority opposition and contentious debate, the Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works approved...

Energy Bill Loses Steam

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) filed anti-wildlife amendments to the energy bill that reached the Senate floor in early February. He, too, proposed removing gray wolves in Wyoming and the Great...

A Few Positive Notes at the Close of the 113th Congress

Thanks to a flurry of activity at the end, the 113th Congress escaped the ignominy of being the least productive Congress in modern history. (It was the second-least productive, right behind...

AWI Sues California County over Wildlife Services Contract

Terrestrial Wildlife

In November, AWI and allies filed a lawsuit against Mendocino County, California, alleging that the county failed to conduct the legally-required environmental review of its contract with the USDA’s Wildlife...

Settlement Agreement Reached in North Carolina to Protect Red Wolves 

In the summer of 2014, AWI and allies won an injunction banning all coyote hunting in the federally established recovery area for red wolves in eastern North Carolina. The injunction...

Crush Video Perpetrator Convicted 

Companion Animals

On September 8, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced that Ashley Nicole Richards pleaded guilty to five counts of producing and distributing crush videos that...

Wielding the Gavel Against Animal Cruelty

Companion Animals

When it comes to animal cruelty cases, it is often hard to tell whether the glass is half empty or half full. Some individuals who have committed heinous acts of...

Anti-poaching Bill Passes House

Terrestrial Wildlife

Congress has taken an important step toward cracking down on wildlife trafficking. On November 2, the House of Representatives passed HR 2494, the Global Anti-Poaching Act, introduced by Reps. Ed...

Federal ORCA Act Introduced

Marine Wildlife

On November 6, 2015, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that he would introduce the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement (ORCA) Act. With eight original cosponsors, the ORCA Act (HR 4019)...

PAWS Act on Positive Track

Companion Animals

On September 18, AWI joined other animal protection organizations in co-hosting a briefing by the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus for staff of members of the US House of Representatives on...