Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010

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Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank Congressman GALLEGLY for his effort to bring this to the floor.

It is Congressman GALLEGLY who originally brought this issue to the attention of Congress 10 years ago, and I have enjoyed working with him as Co-Chairs of the Animal Protection Caucus to pass this important bill.

Quite simply, animal crush videos contain some of the vilest treatment of animals imaginable. They feature scantily clad women crushing, impaling, or burning small animals of all types, apparently for the sexual gratification of some sick people. These videos have no redeeming value and clearly fall outside the realm of protected speech.

But although these videos contain behavior that would be considered animal cruelty under state and federal laws, it is nearly impossible to prove who produces the videos, making a ban on their sale through interstate commerce the only means of ending the market for this smut.

A law was passed by Congress 11 years ago that did just that, but earlier this year the Supreme Court struck down that law, claiming it could be used to violate free speech rights.

While I didn't agree with that decision, it was clear that Congress could not just stand by while these videos once again proliferated on the Internet. Not only are they viciously inhumane to the animals involved, but they also teach behavior that can lead to other violent crimes against animals and humans.

As demonstrated by the its long list of bipartisan cosponsors and its unanimous passage out of Committee, this bill represents a good faith effort by Members of both parties to maintain the effectiveness of the original law while addressing the constitutional concerns raised by the Court.

Those who attempt to make a profit off the sale of crush videos showing the torture of animals should not be allowed to hide behind the claim that they did not produce the content.

This bill will take away that pathetic excuse, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

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