H.R. 8723 aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act by making it illegal to gamble on animal fighting ventures. This bill seeks to strengthen protections for animals involved in fighting and to address the associated gambling activities that support such events.
Many animal welfare advocates and organizations have praised H.R. 8723 for its efforts to combat animal cruelty and reduce the financial incentives that drive animal fighting. Supporters argue that prohibiting gambling on these activities will help deter such practices and promote a more humane treatment of animals.
Critics of H.R. 8723 have raised concerns about the bill's potential impact on legal betting industries and the enforcement challenges it may present. Some argue that the legislation could inadvertently affect other forms of legal gambling and that it may not effectively address the root causes of animal fighting.
The analysis of H.R. 8723, which aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit gambling on animal fighting ventures, indicates no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor Don Bacon's top donor industries and the bill's subject matter. The top donor industries do not appear to have a vested interest in animal welfare or gambling regulations related to animal fighting. Furthermore, the lobbying activity related to this bill primarily involves organizations focused on mortgage lending and multifamily housing, which are unrelated to the bill's content. The total lobbying amounts in this area do not indicate a significant financial influence on the legislation regarding animal welfare, suggesting that the risk of conflict of interest is low. Voters should be aware that while there are substantial lobbying amounts in other sectors, they do not intersect with the interests of animal welfare as outlined in this bill.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MORTGAGE RESEARCH CENTER, LLC | MR. ROBERT ZIMMER | $60,000 |
| TROIKA SOLUTIONS | WAVERLY GROUP | $40,000 |
| COMMUNITY HOME LENDERS OF AMERICA (FKA COMMUNITY MORTGAGE LENDERS OF AMERICA) | MR. ROBERT ZIMMER | $24,000 |
| RURAL MULTIFAMILY LENDERS COUNCIL (RMLC) | MR. ROBERT ZIMMER | $15,000 |
| MULTIFAMILY LENDERS COUNCIL THROUGH DAVID L. HORNE LLC | MR. ROBERT ZIMMER | $10,000 |
| QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP | CONTINENTAL STRATEGY, LLC | undisclosed |
| UNITY GLOBAL ENERGY | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| WISTAR INSTITUTE | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| CASCADE COMPANY LLC | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| MERLYN MIND | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| ECONOMY LEAGUE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| PENNSYLVANIA BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| ECONOMY LEAGUE OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | IKON PUBLIC AFFAIRS | undisclosed |
| FEDERAL MONEY SERVICES BUSINESS ASSOCIATION INC. | FEDERAL MONEY SERVICES BUSINESS ASSOCIATION INC. | undisclosed |
| PATRICK ANDRAOUS | J M BURKMAN & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Don Bacon, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
