The House of Representatives passed the "Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006." The legislation increases penalties for criminal acts against animal enterprises (farms, meat processing companies, labs, animal shelters, pet stores, breeders or furriers). The measure revises criminal prohibitions against damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise to include "intentional damage or loss to any real or personal property and intentional threats of death or serious bodily injury against individuals." The legislation passed the Senate in September. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent