Bills S. 3880 / H.R. 4239

Key Elements of the AETA

Co-sponsors

Government Press Releases

Government Hearings

Key Contacts

Support Builders

Supporting Groups

Supporting Individuals

Media Coverage

Washington Farm Bureau on animal rights terrorism

After passing the Senate on Sept. 30 and the House of Representatives on Nov. 13, President George Bush has signed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act into law. White House press release.

See also FCUSA press release: AETA passes Congress. On to President for Signature.

Take note all defenders of property rights, resource providers, researchers and citizens who are simply concerned at the assault on our right to go about our lives free of violence and intimidation. Despite its name, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is NOT just for livestock farmers, zoos and rodeos! It is legislation that will help protect all of us from the scourge of animal rights and eco-terrorism!

The Animal Enterprises Protection Act (AEPA) of 1992 was a step in the right direction, and improved with age. Notably, in 2002 fines and jail time were increased for violations, and penalties were established for damages under $10,000.

But times have changed, and our legislation must evolve with those times.

As Rep. Tom Petri, sponsor of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act in the House, points out, extremists "have recognized the limits and ambiguities in the statute and have tailored their campaigns to exploit them." Notably, because the AEPA does not address attacks against companies and employees that do business with animal enterprises, terror campaigns are increasingly being directed at these so-called "tertiary targets".

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act also addresses key concerns of law enforcement who have waged an uphill battle to prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of animal rights terrorism.

FCUSA applauds the efforts of Rep. Petri for introducing H.R. 4239, and Sens. Inhofe, Feinstein, Thune and Isakson for introducing S. 3880, and you should too. See below to find out if your representatives agreed to co-sponsor these bills. If theydid, then please write and thank them.

Action alert flyer!
Updated November 14

Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

Sept. 8, 2006: Inhofe-Feinstein Introduce Bi-partisan Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Oct. 28, 2005: Inhofe Introduces Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. S1926 will provide federal authorities with the necessary tools to help prevent, and better investigate and prosecute eco-terror cases.

Office of Rep. Tom Petri

Oct. 23, 2006: The FACTS on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. "Dear Colleague" response to concerns about the AETA, from Reps. Petri and Scott.

Nov. 4, 2005: Petri Introduces Bill Against Animal Rights Extremists.

Government Hearings

Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

Oct. 26, 2005: A Second Hearing on Eco-Terrorism Specifically Examining Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty ("SHAC"). Available in transcript (pdf format) and as video (RealPlayer required). For opening statements of Sen. Inhofe, Sen. Jeffords, and witnesses, click here.

Key Contacts

Office of Sen. James Inhofe

Marc Morano, (202) 224-5762, marc_morano@epw.senate.gov

Matt Dempsey, (202) 224-9797, matthew_dempsey@epw.senate.gov

Office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Howard Gantman, (202) 224-9629
Howard_Gantman@feinstein.senate.gov

Office of Rep. Tom Petri

Lindsay Bowers, (202) 225-2476

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT:

- Amends the Animal Enterprise Protection Act and enhances the effectiveness of the Department of Justice’s response to recent trends in the eco/animal rights-related crime sprees and terror campaigns.

- Addresses the "tertiary targeting" or "third party targeting" system used by animal rights terrorists by prohibiting the intentional damaging of property of a person or entity having a connection to, relationship with, or transactions with an animal enterprise. Previously, only the animal enterprise itself was covered by the law.

- Prohibits veiled threats to individuals and their families. It prohibits intentionally placing a person in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to that person or their family because of their relationship with an animal enterprise.

- Increases penalties for intentionally causing economic disruption or damage and for intentionally causing a person bodily injury or intentionally placing a person in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury.

- Broadens the definition of animal enterprise to include a commercial enterprise that uses or sell animals or animal products for profit or otherwise including animal shelters, breeders, pet stores, and furriers.

- Makes crimes under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act eligible for Title 3 electronic surveillance.

- Defines the term "economic damage," which includes the loss of property, costs associated with a lost experiment, or lost profits.

- Defines the term "economic disruption," which means losses or increased costs resulting from threats, acts of violence, property damage, trespass, harassment, or intimidation taking against a person or entity on account of their relationship with an animal enterprise. This does not include lawful boycott.

Washington Farm Bureau policy manual, 2006

135 - Domestic "Animal Rights" Terrorism

We urge the United States Congress to take the following steps to address the problem of domestic "animal rights" terrorism:

1) Amend the federal Animal Enterprise Act of 1993 to add protection for humans associated with animal enterprises as well as the facilities protected under current law, and to establish maximum penalties for those whose terrorist acts against animal enterprises result in injury or loss of human life.

2) Amend the federal tax code to allow for suspension or revocation of tax-exempt status for federally recognized charities linked to domestic terrorist groups in the event that such relationships are confirmed by federal investigation.

3) Direct the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to allow for permanent removal of such charity from the Combined Federal Campaign list of eligible charities in the event that such relationships are confirmed by federal investigation and that such organizations be required to return all funds they have received as a result of being on the Combined Federal Campaign list.

4) Initiate legal proceedings to revoke the nonprofit status of any group responsible for animal rights terrorism as described above. (1999, Amended 2001)

S. 3880 introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (OK), Sept. 8, 2006. Click here to download S. 3880 as passed Sept. 30, 2006, in pdf format.

H.R. 4239 introduced by Rep. Tom Petri (WI), Nov. 4, 2005. Click here to download H.R. 4239 IH in pdf format

For the very latest information relating to the passage of these bills, visit http://thomas.loc.gov

Support Builders

Foundation for Biomedical Research

Extremists Succeed in Campaign of Intimidation; All of Us Stand to Lose. News release, August 2006.

Illegal Incidents Report: A 25-year history of illegal activities by eco- and animal extremists. (PDF format)

National Animal Interest Alliance.

NAIA Applauds Inhofe Bill Targeting Animal Rights Terrorism.

Send your letter of support on-line with NAIA Trust.

Animal Enterprise Protection Coalition

Organized by the National Association for Biomedical Research, the AEPC comprises organizations supporting the AETA but whose identities have not yet been made public. Click here for more info. See also writing to your representative page.

Supporting Groups
The following groups had pledged support for the AETA as of Nov. 13:

Ag Associates
Agribusiness Association of Iowa
Alabama Livestock Markets Association
Allegheny Forest Alliance
Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
American Agri-Women
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Anatomists
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
American Association of Swine Veterinarians
American Brain Coalition
American Council on Education
American Farmers and Ranchers
American Feed Industry Association
American Horse Council
American Kennel Club
American Land Rights Association
American Legend Cooperative
American Meat Institute
American Mink Council
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
American Physiological Society
American Psychological Association
Americans for Medical Progress
American Sheep Industry Association
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners
American Veal Association
Animal Agriculture Alliance
Animal Health Institute
Animal Welfare Council
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International
Association for Psychological Science
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of American Universities
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of West Virginia Livestock Auction Markets
Biotechnology Industry Organization
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
California Aquaculture Association
California Biomedical Research Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Forestry Association
California Grain & Feed Association
California Poultry Federation
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Charles River Laboratories
Communities for a Great Northwest
Concerned Alaskans for Resources and Environment
Conservative Ag Lobbying Foundation
Covance
Dairy Business Association
Dog Federation of Wisconsin
Farm Animal Welfare Coalition
Far West Agribusiness Association
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Federation of Animal Science Societies
Feld Entertainment
Florida Association of Livestock Markets
Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association
Friends in Dog Ownership (FIDO)
Friends of Rodeo
Fur Breeders Agricultural Co-Operative
Fur Commission USA
Fur Information Council of America
Georgia Livestock Markets Association
Grain & Feed Association of Illinois
Greater Fur New York Association
Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts
Huntingdon Life Sciences
Illinois Pork Producers Association
Indiana Grain & Feed Association
Indiana Pork Advocacy Coalition
International Committee for Veal Welfare
International Marine Animal Trainers Association
Iowa Pork Producers Council
Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association
Kansas Dairy Association
Kansas Grain and Feed Association
Kansas Livestock Association
Kentucky Livestock Auction Association
Laboratory Animal Management Association
Livestock Marketing Association
Louisiana Forestry Association
Massachusetts Society for Medical Research
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Bio-Economy Consortium
Michigan Pork Producers Association
Michigan Society for Medical Research
Mid-Continent Association for Agriculture, Biomedical Research and Education
Minnesota Agri-Growth Council
Mississippi Livestock Markets Association
National Animal Interest Alliance
National Animal Interest Alliance Trust
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Chicken Council
National Grain and Feed Association
National Livestock Producers Association
National Meat Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Renderers Association
National Trappers Association
National Turkey Federation
Nebraska Grain and Feed Association
Nebraska Pork Producers Association
New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research
North American Fur Auctions
North American Meat Processors Association
North Carolina Livestock Auction Markets Association
Northeast Ag and Feed Alliance
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research
Northwest Farm Food Coop (WA)
Ohio Agribusiness Association
Ohio Cattlemen's Association
Ohio Pork Producers
Ohio Scientific Education and Research Association
Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
Oklahoma Farmers Union
Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association
Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association
Oklahoma Pork Council
Olympic Fur Breeders Association
Organization of Professional Aviculturists
Pacific Coast Renderers Association
Pacific Egg & Poultry Association
Pennsylvania Forest Industry Association
Pennsylvania Livestock Markets Association
Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research
Pet Food Institute
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
Pfizer
Phoenix Exotic Wildlife Association
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Property Rights Foundation of America
Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University
Sleep Research Society
Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
Society for Neuroscience
South Carolina Livestock Markets Association
South Carolina Pork Producers
South Dakota Pork Producers Council
Southern Research Institute
Southwest Meat Association
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners Voting Alliance
States United for Biomedical Research
Take Back Pennsylvania
Tennessee Livestock Markets Association
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Texas Grain and Feed Association
Texas Pork Producers Association
Texas Society for Biomedical Research
United Egg Producers
University of California
University of Texas Medical Branch
Utah Pork Producers
Veal USA
Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association
Virginia Livestock Markets Association
Virginians for Property Rights
Virginia Pork Producers
Wisconsin Agri-Service Association
Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research and Education
Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Device Association
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin Pork Association
Wisconsin Veal Growers Association
Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association
WR2, Inc.
Yannis Furs Inc. (Great Neck, NY)

Supporting Individuals

Arnold, Ron; author of Ecoterror: The Violent Agenda to Save Nature: The World of the Unabomber

Barberg, Abby E.; Research Assistant, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Minnesota

O'Connor, Brian L.; Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Media Coverage

Nov. 21, 2006: Wisconsin violence sparks new animal activist law. Daily Cardinal.

Sept. 15, 2006: Animal activism out of control. Science magazine editorial.

May 25, 2006: Hearing held on Petri animal rights terrorism bill. Wisconsin Ag Connection.

Apr. 10, 2006: US tackles controversial issue with conviction. Financial Times (UK) on SHAC convictions. (Outside link)

Oct. 29, 2005: S.1926 - A Response to Tertiary Targeting. Animal Crackers.