Protecting animals

There is absolutely no place for the abuse of animals in our society. That is why I have worked across the aisle to introduce legislation that would be the first-ever law to grant all animals federal protections against cruelty and abuse. It's called the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, and it passed the Senate late last week.

The PACT Act would outlaw a heinous form of abuse known as "crushing," where deranged individuals maim and torture animals.

On two separate occasions this year, my Senate Republican colleagues and I attempted to pass this bill on the Senate floor but were blocked by our Democratic counterparts. Unfortunately, by the time the Senate finally passed the PACT Act, the House of Representatives had already adjourned for the year. While it is disappointing that partisan politics prevented us from passing this bill in a timely manner, I remain hopeful that Congress will finish the job next year.

You can learn more about this latest development here, and watch a speech I gave recently on the Senate floor calling on the Senate to pass this commonsense bipartisan legislation here.

Just before the Senate adjourned for the year we passed a major, bipartisan infrastructure bill that is a big win for Pennsylvania. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act will make significant federal investments in our transportation, flood control, and drinking water systems that are critical to Pennsylvania's economy and the safety of our residents.

Specifically, this bill will rehabilitate essential transportation infrastructure on the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania. This project will ensure that manufacturers and energy producers in the Pittsburgh region continue to have affordable transportation access that is critical for staying competitive in the global marketplace and creating jobs.

I am pleased that the Senate took this important step to improve our nation's aging infrastructure, and I hope the president will sign this measure as soon as possible.

This past Wednesday was the four-year anniversary of the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School where twenty young children and six school employees were killed. It was a terrible day for our country, and meeting some of the families of the victims was one of the most moving moments in my Senate career.

The senseless killings also inspired me to work across the aisle on commonsense gun safety legislation that upholds the Second Amendment while also making it harder for criminals and the dangerously mentally ill to purchase a firearm. I remain committed to this cause and look forward to working with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) again next Congress on our background check proposal.

I am working to help bring dignity to veterans who have passed away but whose remains are still unclaimed. According to the Missing in America Project, there are an estimated 47,000 veterans' remains stored throughout the United States that have yet to be claimed. Unfortunately, due to red tape, it can be extremely difficult for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veteran service organizations, and funeral directors to determine whether the next of kin can be found.

My bipartisan bill, the Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act, begins the process of looking at how the VA handles these remains - how they are identified, claimed, and interred. I am glad to tell you that the Senate passed my legislation last week, and it is going to the president for his signature.

Our veterans represent the best of us, and when they pass away, it's incumbent upon us as a nation to ensure that each of them receive a service fitting of their bravery and sacrifice. I'm glad that effort will be underway shortly.

You can read more about this legislation here.