By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During an animal-welfare hearing last week on Capitol Hill, the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) urged members of Congress to be skeptical of animal-rights activists from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Farm Sanctuary, who discourage Americans from eating meat no matter how “humanely” it is raised.

The $150 million HSUS and Farm Sanctuary both promote a vegan diet (completely meat- and dairy-free).

“When the topic of discussion is how to make livestock farming better, the complaints of radical vegans should be seen for what they are: an attempt to dismantle animal agriculture, not improve it. Thinking people should instantly recognize their ulterior motives,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko, who testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Two weeks ago HSUS ranked U.S. cities according to what it called a “Humane Index.” Its “Humane Eats” scorecard judges how “humane” a city’s dining options are by counting only the “number of vegetarian restaurants per capita.” Congress, Martosko said, should be alarmed at HSUS’s apparent judgment that only meatless eating can be called “humane.”

“While the livestock industry has a long history of supporting animal welfare, many activist groups such as PETA, the Humane Society of the United States and Farm Sanctuary have used falsehoods and scare tactics to push their hidden agendas of fundraising and systematically abolishing all use of animals, including production agriculture, zoos, circuses and sporting events,” said Congressman Charles Stenholm of Texas during his testimony to the committee.

Stenholm said animal activist groups like HSUS fail to mention the millions of dollars in fundraising and assets that finance their goals. “HSUS has accumulated $113 million in assets, has a budget three times the size of PETA’s, and according to the ActivistCash website has more than enough funding to finance animal shelters in all 50 states, yet operates only one animal sanctuary, Black Beauty Ranch in Tezxas, which is at full capacity,” Stenholm said. “According to the Wall Street Journal, two offshoots of HSUS spent $3.4 million on Congressional elections and ballot initiative, which is more than Exxon Mobil Corp.”

“Humane treatment of animals is an important matter to millions of people,” said HSUS President Pacelle. “Americans expect that animals will be treated humanely, and it is up to this committee to ensure that they are.”

CCF’s message to Congress was that no matter how much farmers take animals’ welfare into account, animal-rights leaders won’t be satisfied until all animal protein disappears from the human diet.

“HSUS and PETA share the same long-term goals,” Martosko added. “No meat. No dairy. No animal agriculture. Period. HSUS is basically PETA with a nicer wristwatch.”

One of the points CCF made was that some groups, including the HSUS, distort facts to turn the public away from eating meat. For example, HSUS’s website, along with that of the PETA-connected Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, overstates the fat content of chicken – a big vegetarian no-no, by more than 500 percent. HSUS says it’s 23 percent; CCF says the real number is 5 grams out of a 140-gram portion or less than 4 percent. “Congress could require U.S. farmers to supply every pig, chicken, duck, and cow with private rooms, daily rubdowns, video iPods, and organic meals catered by Wolfgang Puck. But even this wouldn’t satisfy activists who actually believe farm animals have the ‘right’ not to be eaten,” said Martosko.

Martosko pointed out that family veal farmers bear the brunt of constant animal-rights attacks. And HSUS is working to completely outlaw foie gras, which is raised on a very small scale.

During the hearings, Salvadoran duck farmer Guillero Gonzalez told members of Congress that animal activists trespass, damage his property, steal his animals and more. He sids these actions are an attempt to drive him off his land and out of business in the name of animal welfare. But they seem to have forgotten the welfare of human farms, he said.

“I am proud of my farm’s operation,” said Gonzalez, who operates Sonoma Foie Gras in California and was representing the Artisa Farms Alliance, a new group that represents, among others, the three farms in the United States that produce foie gras.

“As anyone who has ever worked in animal agriculture will tell you, there is no one who cares more about animal welfare than farmers. Like other farmers, my entire livelihood depends on the health of my animals.”

“I’ve never tasted foie gras,” Martosko conceded. “But who are these people to decide I shouldn’t have the chance to try it? When zealots ban books because of their politics, millions of people rise up. Why isn’t banning food for political reasons viewed the same way?”

During the hearings, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) called Pacelle’s testimony simply “false” when Pacelle said meat from a cow identified with Mad Cow disease in 2003 went on the consumer market in various states.

“If you eat or wear clothes, you are affected by agriculture. The industry remains an important part of the U.S. economy,” said Stenholm. “As a farmer and rancher, I believe in the significance of the agriculture industry and in the value animal agriculture producers put on the safety and welfare of their livestock.”

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies and consumers, working to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices.

This farm news was published in the May 16, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.