 Hi everybody, it is good to have you here on such a nice day and For such a great occasion. I am proud in just a few minutes. I am going to be signing the animal abuse statute Overhaul I'm going to make that effective today. Yes. Go ahead You are going to hear from a number of other people who are very instrumental in getting this passed But I just want to say a few words This is really landmark legislation as you know This is important because it brings and it's it's taken far too long for Pennsylvania to get to get here But it updates our animal abuse and a statute and increases penalties For anyone found to be abusing or neglecting an animal I think by now you've all heard the story of Libre who was found in deplorable conditions and thankfully was brought back to good health and he's here and And yes, there he is Say hi, yes, and I have it on good authority that he is very proud to have this legislation called Libre's law That's I think he's pretty proud Anyway, unfortunately his story is is too common in Pennsylvania And this bipartisan legislative package is aimed at addressing that and trying to make sure that there are no Libre's in our future. No one should be allowed to get away with cruel animal treatment No one should be allowed to get away with the neglect of animals and now thanks to this statute They won't be able to get away with it. So again, that's a big deal. Yes So I gotta say I was I was thrilled to meet Libre last week. I'm not sure he was quite as thrilled to meet me Well, honestly, but I was really thrilled to meet him and and he is a he is full of energy full of energy and I think anyone who saw the the him on the the video clip he was actually very friendly and and Really full of full of life. So I I think this is a great thing for him and again for every animal in Pennsylvania like him Unfortunately up until now Pennsylvania was one of only three states in the entire country without this kind of tough law against animal cruelty and So we're signing. I'm signing this we've done this because I think all of us have recognized so many of us that this is Animal cruelty is not consistent with Pennsylvania's values and again, it's not consistent with the rest of the country So this statute will bring us in line with the rest of the country And giving us higher standards for the care and well-being of our pets and animals This package was a long time coming and I'm really proud to be able to sign it today But I want to thank you're going to hear from Representative Stevens in a minute but Todd Stevens Richard Allaway who you'll hear from in a minute and also Ryan Bizarro Bizarro who you're going to hear from in a minute for all their work on Leading the passage of this bill and their people behind me all of them had a big impact on getting this to my desk so we need to make sure that we are treating our animals with with respect we need to Bring an end to the deplorable Conduct that allows people to think that they can abuse animals in Pennsylvania And I think this law really really takes us a long way toward doing just that so now I am honored to introduce again as I said one of the people who really led the fight in this When I congratulate him on his success and ask him to say a few words representative Todd Steven Todd Well, thank you Governor Wolf for your steadfast support for this bill and for animals in Pennsylvania This is how government should work right Legislators from both sides of the aisle and the House and Senate and Governor working collaboratively together to solve problems This journey began almost a year ago last July Governor I don't know if you know this but you were signing my animal fighting paraphernalia bill and following that bill signing Kristen Tullo and Heidi Prescott and Sarah speed and I were talking about Abuse of horses because of the horse that was shot with paintballs We all may remember that from last last summer I grew up on a horse farm and and that was deeply concerning to me on top of that I was a prosecutor and I understand the links between animal abuse and child abuse and domestic violence So based on that conversation I set out to to learn a little bit more about the penalties and realize that in Pennsylvania Torturing or or seriously abusing an animal in most instances was punishable only by the equivalent of a traffic ticket And that was just wrong. So we set out to change that Shortly thereafter Libre emerged and news of his horrific abuse and heroic recovery spread across Pennsylvania My good friend Senator Rich Allaway took up the mantle and began immediately pushing for tougher penalties for animal abuse Over in the Senate and we worked shoulder to shoulder with my Democratic colleague Ryan Bizarro in the house to try to get that legislation across the finish line last session but We came up just a little short and so we did what I think Everyone should do is regroup and we pulled back and we said all right. What are we gonna do and you know Motivated by all the horrific animal abuse of last summer. We heard about turtles being blown up with m80s We heard about horses being beaten on a street Because they collapsed in the summer heat while pulling a cart full of watermelons and then of course Libre so We decided to regroup and do something a little bigger a little more comprehensive and here We are today celebrating a resounding victory for animals in Pennsylvania Until now those torturing are severely abusing most animals as I mentioned only received the equivalent of a traffic ticket This bill changes that prescribing felony penalties for the most egregious abusers And that's thanks to the efforts of senator Allaway Representative Dom Costa and representative Chris Sonato who've pursued those tougher penalties in the past they certainly deserve a round of applause Until now Veterinarians were reluctant to report animal abuse to the authorities for fear of retaliatory lawsuits This bill changes that thanks to the efforts of my colleague representative Mark Keller He deserves a round of applause to Until now convicted felony level abusers could have their animals returned to them This bill changes that thanks to the efforts of my colleague representative Ryan Bizarro Until now our local humane societies were paying far too much in liability insurance premiums because of the potential for frivolous Lawsuits against humane police officers this bill changes that thanks to the efforts of my colleague representative Frank farry Until now it was difficult to remove rogue humane police officers who do a disservice to animals by abusing their authority This bill changes that thanks to the efforts of representative Keith Griner and Lancaster County district attorney Craig Steadman Who I know is here today as well Until now abusing horses carried a lesser penalty than abusing some other animals This bill changes that thanks to the efforts of senator John Eichelberger over in the Senate and until now despite efforts to address it Going back more than a decade Dogs could be tethered outdoors in the elements with no food water or shelter by a short chain Oftentimes weighing more than they do for indefinite periods of time This bill changes that thanks to the efforts of former house member and now senator Mario Scavello who is here This bill has been called the most comprehensive animal protection bill in Pennsylvania history And for good reason, but a bill like this doesn't happen on its own It's the result of legislators from both sides of the aisle in the house and Senate working together with the governor to make this a reality In closing I do want to thank a few other folks as well as all those who have components in this bill house judiciary chairman Ron Marsico is here and He and his executive director Tom Demick Supported this bill and these efforts from the beginning and work tirelessly to get them across the finish line House majority leader Dave Reed and Marsha Lantman Speaker Mike Terzai over in the Senate judiciary chairman Stewart Greenleaf the majority leader Jake Corman and the president pro tem Joe Scarnati in addition to Sarah speed Lancaster County DA Craig Steadman and of course Kristen Tullo and Heidi Prescott they all deserve a round of applause and Last but certainly not least Thanks to the Humane Society of the United States humane PA and most importantly The thousands of advocates who contacted their representatives and senators throughout this process You have been our inspiration and our motivation and without your tireless efforts today would not be a reality Thank you so much for helping us Now when they said I got to introduce Rich Allaway, I thought great I have an open mic and I can say whatever I'd like But we're longtime friends, so I'll I'll make sure that it's it's straight into the point It is an honor and privilege to introduce Rich He is by far the most passionate champion for animals over in the Pennsylvania Senate His work to increase the penalties for animal abuse last session Laid the groundwork for what we're doing today and frankly he said to me look this session He said you look you get that bill out of the house and I will get it onto the governor's desk And you know what he did it and thanks so much ladies and gentlemen my good friend Rich Allaway That was a comprehensive speech Ryan we don't have to say anything Well Thank you. Thank you Representative Stevens Todd and I went to college together years ago And we were friends in college and then we parted ways and went and did our life And then lo and behold our paths crossed again at the Pennsylvania legislature So it was seemed very appropriate to work with him on this But first of all I want to thank everyone up here every person standing up here had a part of this This bill was not about one person This was about everyone who worked together and as Todd said the legislative process worked You are the ones that kept on the phones that wrote the emails that came to the Capitol day after day to implore our legislator to get this thing done and that's why this got done So thank you to all of you for the work that you gave and the support that you gave to us so thank you and Then and then there's the star of the show. I mean what else can you say about this guy? I mean he is a total rock star When when Libre comes into the Capitol the whole Capitol starts to buzz I mean, it's just it's incredible. He comes in my office and we send out an email Libre's in my office in my office is swarmed with with people who want to meet him and get their picture with them So, you know think look at these pictures up here. You've seen him on our Facebook page You've seen him in the media the pictures of what he looked like when he was found and rescued and I see Dr. Pryor down there. Who's the main man? We love that guy Dr. Pryor took that little guy in and and it was a miracle and just you just can't believe it I I think I saw him like a week after you you had him and It was just amazing that he was able to even be up and moving around and then the following week was just even credible When he was walking around you're off flow funny story. He comes walking out of the vets office He's in the lobby and he's just mows around like like he owns the place, right? Because that's how he is and he just turns around and takes a craft right there in the middle of the big Everybody that's Libre. That's Libre, right? I mean he just he owns it, right? He owns it. He's a champion Libre Janine thank you for everything that you did and it's because of this little guy But thank you all so much now We're gonna bring Libre into the negotiating table at the budget because apparently He can bring everybody together and that's what we want so thank you very much Libre I'll get it done Next up is represented Bizarro from Erie a good friend of ours who again like everyone up here led the charge pulled the wagon and Thank you for your Brian. Thank you for supporting come up and say what Pad didn't already say It's gonna be hard to fill in any gaps because everything's pretty much been covered But today is a new day for animals of all kind in Pennsylvania We are getting rid of the archaic laws have been plaguing this state regarding animal cruelty for years And it was a team effort a complete team effort Bipartisan support in both chambers But honestly, we wouldn't have got this far without all of you. This is very much Wind for what's going on here in the Capitol, but this is your win So thank you all for everything for all your time and commitment and support and advocacy Certainly, we could not have done this without you Again, I couldn't be more pleased to be a part of this what started off as a simple animal forfeiture bill morphed into something amazing a complete overhaul of Our former laws so 60 days from now Justice will be served for our four-legged friends. Thanks again And I greatly appreciate Everything that you've done and keep fighting the good fight because there's still a lot of more changes that that need to be done So thanks again, but I would be remiss if I did not If I did not introduce Kristen Tullo who This really could not have been possible without her. She knocked on every legislator and senator's door multiple times You know we she has her own office basically here in the capital. She's down here so much I'm pretty sure she even camped out a few nights Her tireless advocacy none of this could have been possible really without her so Kristen. Thank you It's not only are we celebrating today's bill signing, but we are also celebrating the pets and hot car legislation that was introduced by representatives Frank fairy and Don Costa Which just voted out of house judiciary committee The story of a puppy named Libre the cruelty he suffered and his miraculous recovery is what sparked public dialogue To call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to take animal cruelty crimes seriously Representative Todd Stevens introduced House bill 1238 Incorporating senator Richard Alway's Libre's law and by partisan support from the following legislators We have to give a shout out to representatives Ryan bizarro representatives Dom Costa representative fairy representative Keller representative Griner representative Marceco representative Reed and Sonato big round of applause and of course to senator Richard Alway and John Eichelberger and Now we are witnessing history in the making with the passing of the most Comprehensive animal protection package in state history by your steadfast presence Perseverance and determination through this campaign house bill 1238 has reached the governor's desk With pen in hand. He's ready to sign this bill into law Thank you from the bottom of my heart across the state to Organizations the fraternal order of police the district attorney association and Craig Steadman Center for Children's Justice Pennsylvania vet medical association Federated humane societies of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania SPCA and of course to justice for Libre and the army of advocates in partnership with and humane PA and To all the supportive groups who worked so hard to see this bill pass Of course recognizing our special canine guest Who are here? We have Aladdin and Libre and they represent the components of house bill 1238 of course to the wonderful supportive media for keeping cruelty issues in the public eye and Before we get to go I just want to take a minute to go through the key components of the bill and Casey is going to be holding these posters because this is Representative of why these issues were important Biscuit the Anna shelter took biscuit in He was the victim of a domestic violence dispute the perpetrator broke his jaw and put 13 cigarettes out across his body While the Anna shelter paid $4,100 in medical cost Representative Ryan Bazzaro's mandatory forfeiture Requires that upon conviction of animal cruelty the abused animal be forfeited to a shelter second senator alway's Libre's law over here Amy you guys have yet right here. This is Libre's law increases penalties for egregious acts of cruelty and in cases like these a Felony during regulations and her came to animal care sanctuary at 10 years old emaciated no muscle mass Barely able to walk after spending 10 years 10 years on the end of a chain Tanner was adopted and spent his last few months in the comfort of a loving home This bill puts reasonable limitations on tethering dogs who are tethered as a means of confinement Fourth added protection for horses. This bill came to be known as Cordelia's law after Senator Eichelberger came across a case in his district Cordelia had no shelter no food no water and suffering from starvation After 10 days of intensive vet and foster care Cordelia could not be saved We are so grateful for this bill because the perpetrator paid a mere fine and under this new large this new law misdemeanor or felony charges could be filed and Finally civil immunity fight provided for veterinarians like Dr. Pryor and Humane Society police officers like Jen Neal Where's Jen? Where's Jen? Jen down there as you can see pictured here Dr. Pryor and officer Neal's with Libre Those that we depend on to protect our animals deserve our protection Just a few examples of why we needed a change in this law and in closing the passing of House bill 1238 is a historic Legislative step toward protecting animals from abuse and neglect in the words of a fellow advocate and a woman whom I deeply Admire and is here with us today my mom Now that we've finally arrived the journey has truly just begun Governor We're ready when you are Dr. Pryor took that little guy in and and it was no one should be allowed to get away with the Very friendly and and really full of full of life So I think this is a great thing for him and again for every animal in Pennsylvania like him unfortunately