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April 2, 2019

A congressman from Florida helped end the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) painful experiments on cats.


April 2, 2019

Following backlash from a slew of lawmakers, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Tuesday that the department will stop experimenting on and euthanizing cats, a practice that has cost taxpayers $22 million, and Republicans are applauding the move.


April 2, 2019

Facing pressure from the public and lawmakers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will put an end to the practice of deadly kitten experiments.

The kittens were used to research toxoplasmosis, a disease brought on by infection from Toxoplasma gondii parasite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls it the leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S.


April 2, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), lead sponsors of the bipartisan, bicameral KITTEN Act, today applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the agency would end its taxpayer-funded experiments on kittens. Previously, the agency had infected kittens with a parasite to perform toxoplasmosis research, then slaughtered and disposed of the kittens once the animals' research use was exhausted.

Issues: Health

April 2, 2019

As marchers walked down East Salinas' Market Street in honor of Cesar Chavez's birthday Sunday, Maribel Jacome pushed her stroller alongside the Alisal Community Arts Network marching band to hand out water.

She had two older daughters participating in the United Farm Workers of America's event – not counting her baby girl in tow – to celebrate the 92nd birthday of the late UFW union leader who organized for better conditions for farmworkers.


April 2, 2019

Government scientists announced Tuesday that they're pulling the plug on a research program that's resulted in the deaths of thousands of cats.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Services lab had been infecting cats with toxoplasmosis and then euthanizing them since 1982 as part of its effort to combat the foodborne illness.


March 26, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced the Restoring Investment in Improvements Act, H.R. 1869, bipartisan legislation that ensures restaurants and retailers are able to properly benefit from a tax provision meant to aid renovations and spur investment.


March 20, 2019

Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat representing California's 20th Congressional District, and Don Bacon, a Republican representing Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, serve as chairs of the For Country Caucus in the House. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat representing Pennsylvania's 6th District, and Michael Waltz, a Republican representing Florida's 6th District, serve as vice chairs of the caucus.

Issues: Veterans