{"id":2190870,"date":"2026-04-27T14:36:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2190870"},"modified":"2026-04-27T14:36:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:36:52","slug":"more-than-500-organizations-urge-congress-to-include-the-fight-act-in-the-farm-bill-by-the-end-of-february","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/more-than-500-organizations-urge-congress-to-include-the-fight-act-in-the-farm-bill-by-the-end-of-february\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 500 organizations urge Congress to include the FIGHT Act in the Farm Bill by the end of February"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the U.S. House of Representatives, the debate is gaining momentum over including the bipartisan FIGHT Act (Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking) in the sweeping Farm Bill package. A coalition of law enforcement and animal protection organizations has appealed to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, urging him to bring the measure up for committee markup scheduled by the end of February. The bill\u2019s goal is to strengthen federal tools to combat animal fighting, illegal gambling, and organized crime, which are often intertwined as part of the same criminal ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite strict bans, dogfighting and cockfighting continue to surface across the United States, and Pennsylvania is no exception. Supporters of the bill emphasize that animal cruelty here is just the tip of the iceberg: beneath it lie illegal betting, drug trafficking, and other criminal schemes.<\/span><\/p>\n

A bipartisan bill<\/b><\/p>\n

The initiative is being advanced in both chambers of Congress. In the House of Representatives it is filed as H.R. 3946, and in the Senate as S.1454. Both measures propose to amend the Animal Welfare Act, strengthening enforcement mechanisms against animal fighting and related criminal activity. Among the bipartisan co-sponsors are many members of Congress from Pennsylvania.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 500 organizations nationwide support the bill. Among the key supporters from Pennsylvania are the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police, the state sheriffs\u2019 association, and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. All appeals are addressed directly to Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crimes speak for themselves<\/b><\/p>\n

Two recent cases in Pennsylvania clearly illustrate the scale of the problem. In 2025, state police conducted an investigation in West Hazleton and seized 28 pit bulls bearing scars and other injuries consistent with dogfighting. In Plumstead Township (Bucks County), an illegal cockfighting ring was shut down, and one of those charged was also convicted on drug-trafficking charges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the key measures proposed by the FIGHT Act are the following:<\/span><\/p>\n