Humane Society Supporting CAFTA
April 28, 2005
The Humane Society, who has a history of working in solidarity with organizations opposing neo-liberal trade agreements, is supporting CAFTA. At a Senate Finance Committee Hearing on April 13, the Humane Society delivered testimony supporting CAFTA and arguing that the trade agreement will help improve the environment in Central America.
A group of Representatives opposed to CAFTA are charging that the group was persuaded to support the agreement after receiving a $500,000 grant in October 2003 from the US Trade Representative's office for agricultural and environmental work in Central America. The group points out that prior to receiving the grant, the Humane Society "was a strong opponent of all major trade legislation over the past decade," including NAFTA. In the letter the group will also ask that the Humane Society be investigated by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as some of the grant money was believed to have been used for lobbying in favor of CAFTA.