Bill Overview
Title: To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for greater protection of roosters, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill expands protections of animals provided under the Animal Welfare Act, including by prohibiting any (1) broadcasts from international, interstate, or intrastate sources of animal fighting ventures in the United States or U.S. territories; and (2) shipments or transport of certain mature roosters.
Sponsors: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in rooster-related activities and animal welfare advocacy
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill aims to expand the protections for roosters under the Animal Welfare Act.
- It prohibits broadcasts of animal fighting ventures, which suggests impacting those involved or interested in these activities.
- The prohibition of shipments or transport of certain mature roosters could affect the agricultural and farming community, especially those involved in rooster breeding.
- There are cultural and regional practices involving roosters, such as cockfighting, which may be highly localized or segemented in regions where such activities were traditionally present.
Reasoning
- The population includes individuals engaged in rooster-related activities, media professionals, farmers, and animal welfare advocates and could potentially include more general animal welfare conscious individuals.
- The policy budget is quite limited when considering the broad population size and administrative costs, suggesting it will impact only those very directly engaged in rooster-related industries or animal welfare advocacy, rather than the general population.
- The wellbeing impact will vary; those directly involved in banned activities like cockfighting might experience reduced wellbeing, while those advocating for animal welfare and not economically dependent on these practices will likely see an improved wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Rooster Breeder (Louisiana)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy deeply affects my work. Breeding roosters is a tradition and livelihood.
- I worry about how I will support my family without being able to transport roosters as freely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Animal Welfare Activist (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a positive step towards better animal protection in the U.S.
- I'm glad to see measures against animal fighting being strengthened.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Poultry Farmer (Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this policy will affect my business very much.
- It seems targeted at specific practices that we don't engage in.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Activist (Puerto Rico)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes me hopeful for a future where we prioritize animal welfare.
- It's an important step, though implementation will be key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired Police Officer (Kentucky)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Curious to see if this will actually reduce illegal cockfighting.
- Enforcement may require more resources than stated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Media Broadcasting Executive (New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our programming doesn't heavily rely on such content, so impact is minimal.
- I see this as a necessary shift towards ethical standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Hispanic Cultural Event Organizer (New Mexico)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could really change how cultural events are organized.
- There's a clash between tradition and law that's challenging for us. It's not all negative, just complicated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Animal Control Officer (Florida)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy strengthens our ability to take legal action against these activities.
- It could improve my job satisfaction, seeing real legal backing on the issues I handle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Local Government Official (Guam)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about cultural traditions and tourism impacts, as well as local economy changes.
- Balancing these factors with the new regulations is challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Veterinarian (Tennessee)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy supports the ethical treatment of animals and aligns with my values.
- While it won't directly affect my practice, it could improve community attitudes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $7500000 (Low: $4500000, High: $11500000)
Year 3: $7000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $11000000)
Year 5: $6500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $10500000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The need for effective enforcement of rooster-related transport and broadcast prohibitions to ensure compliance and meet protection goals.
- Stakeholder education and collaboration with agricultural and media sectors to minimize disruptions.
- Balancing new enforcement costs against potential savings in reduced illegal activity handling.