AR-News: Contact California Assembly on Bill to Ban Foie Gras

[Pam at AVAR]

URGENT ACTION ALERT ON SB 1520

California Bill To Ban Force Feeding of Ducks and Geese Sales of Foie Gras 
Passes Senate

Letters Needed to Assembly Members by June 18

Senate Bill 1520 passed the California Senate by a vote of 21-14. It now 
goes to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. The bill, which 
bans the force feeding of ducks and geese in the production of foie gras, 
as well as sales of the product in California, is being carried by Senate 
President Pro-Tem John Burton at the request of AVAR, Farm Sanctuary, 
Viva!USA, and LA Lawyers for Animals. In order for the bill to pass out of 
the senate, it was amended to have a 7 ½-year phase out before the law goes 
into effect.

Foie gras (or fatty liver) is produced by using a pipe inserted into the 
esophagus of a duck or goose and force feeding excessive amounts of food 
several times daily. This practice intentionally causes their livers to 
swell to up to 10 times normal size. Some restaurants serve the fatty liver 
as an expensive food item.

Many countries, including Denmark, Norway, Poland, Germany, and Israel, ban 
the practice because it is considered cruel. In the United States, there 
are only two producers of foie gras, one in New York and one in California.

It is crucial that the Assembly hear from its constituents. Passing the 
bill out of the Senate was difficult. Please write a polite letter by June 
18th to Assembly Member Lou Correa, Chair, Assembly Business and 
Professions Committee, State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814 or fax: 
(916) 319-2169. Ask him to support SB 1520.Tell him that it is time to 
prohibit practices which involve animal cruelty, especially for gratuitous 
food items. If you have time, or are representing an organization, please 
also contact the other committee members listed below.

Also, please write a letter to your state assembly member. All assembly 
members can be mailed to c/o State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814. 
If you do not know who your state assembly member is: Call 916-322-9900. Or 
go to www.assembly.ca.gov to find your state assembly member and contact 
information.

For more information on the foie gras issue: contact AVAR at info at avar.org 
or visit AVAR’s website: www.avar.org

Assembly Business and Professions Committee Members

Assembly Member Lou Correa, Chair
Fax: (916) 319-2169
Email: Assemblymember.Correa at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Shirley Horton, Vice Chair
Fax: (916) 319-2178
Email: Assemblymember.Shirley.Horton at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Bill Maze
Fax: (916) 319-2134
Email: Assemblymember.Maze at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Greg Aghazarian
Fax: (916) 319-2126
Email: Assemblymember.Aghazarian at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Abel Maldonado
Fax: (916) 319-2133
Email: Assemblymember.maldonado at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Gloria Negrete McLeod
Fax: (916) 319-2161
Email: Assemblymember.McLeod at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Juan Vargas
Fax: (916) 319-2179
Email: Assemblymember.Vargas at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Mark Leno
Fax: (916) 319-2113
Email: Assemblymember.leno at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Rudy Bermudez
Fax: (916) 319-2156
Email: Assemblymember.bermudez at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Leland Yee
Fax: (916) 319-2112
Email: Assemblymember.yee at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Joe Nation
Fax: (916) 319-2106
Email: Joe.Nation at asm.ca.gov

Assembly Member Ellen Corbett
Fax: (916) 319-2118
Email: Assemblymember.Corbett at assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Member Paul Koretz
Fax: (916) 319-2142
Email: Assemblymember.Koretz at assembly.ca.gov


Pam Runquist
Director of Companion Animal Issues
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
PO Box 208
Davis, CA 95617-0208
Tel: (530) 759-8106
pam at avar.org

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