CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Expressing opposition to the use of onychectomy, also known as declawing, for elective surgery in cats.

H.Res. 985 · House resolution Animals

A Democratic resolution with 20 Democratic cosponsors · See all 20 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

A House resolution is the House speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the House agrees to it, it is officially the House's word; it is not a law, so the Senate and the President have no part in it.

What this bill would do

This resolution expresses opposition to the use of onychectomy, or declawing, for elective purposes in cats. It defines declawing as any procedure that removes or disables a cat's claws or normal claw function. The resolution notes that such procedures can cause long-lasting physical and behavioral issues for cats. It states that these surgeries can also increase public health risks due to increased biting. The resolution urges state legislatures to consider banning these elective procedures to protect animal welfare and public health. Finally, it affirms a commitment to advancing animal protection in the United States.