Hearing Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Time & Location: 1:30 p.m., Conference Room 224

To: Chair Mike Gabbard
Vice Chair Russell E. Ruderman
Members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment

Submitted by: Gene Baur, President of Farm Sanctuary, phone: 607-227-5017

RE: Testimony in Support of SB 3153: Relating to Animal Cruelty

Dear Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Ruderman, and Members of the Committee:

I am writing on behalf of Farm Sanctuary and our more than 1.2 million nationwide members and constituents in strong support of SB 3153, which seeks to prevent the inhumane confinement of animals on factory farms.

Animals exploited for food in the U.S. are subjected to egregious cruelty and do not have adequate legal protection. Millions are confined in cages and crates so tightly that they can’t walk, turn around, or even lie down comfortably. Consumers are appalled when they learn about this, and they are demanding reforms.

So far, twelve states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington) have enacted legislation to limit the inhumane confinement of farm animals, and we urge lawmakers in Hawaii to do so as well by enacting SB 3153. This common sense measure will help to prevent unnecessary animal suffering, and it will better align agricultural practices with societal values and consumer expectations.

Like all animals, farm animals have feelings, and they deserve to be protected from cruelty. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.”

We urge your support of SB 3153. Thank you very much for your time and thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,

Gene Baur
President & Co-Founder
Farm Sanctuary