The Federal Working Animal Protection Act, also known as the BOWOW Act, aims to protect animals used in law enforcement by making it a deportable offense for non-U.S. nationals to harm such animals. If a non-U.S. national is convicted or admits to harming law enforcement animals, they will be considered inadmissible and subject to deportation.
Supporters of the BOWOW Act highlight its strong stance on protecting law enforcement animals, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding these animals that play crucial roles in public safety. Media coverage in favor of the bill often praises its clear message that harming working animals has serious consequences, potentially deterring such offenses.
Critics of the BOWOW Act argue that it disproportionately targets non-U.S. nationals, raising concerns about fairness and potential implications for immigration policy. Some media outlets express worry about the bill's focus on deportation rather than addressing broader issues of animal welfare and law enforcement practices.
The sponsor of the bill, Ken Calvert, has received significant donations from industries that could be affected by the Federal Working Animal Protection Act. The most notable are the Retired and Government sectors, which have donated $162,500,000 and $65,000,000 respectively. The overlap of these industries with the bill's subject matter raises potential conflicts of interest. However, it's important to note that these donations are from individuals, not PACs, which may suggest personal support rather than corporate influence. Lobbying activity in this bill's policy area is also significant, with undisclosed amounts from several organizations. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to fully assess the potential conflicts.
These industries are both affected by this bill and among the sponsor's top donors.
| Industry | Match Type | Related Subject | Donations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retired (W06) | Sector | Immigration | $162,500,000 |
| Government (W02) | Sector | Immigration | $65,000,000 |
| Total from overlapping industries | $227,500,000 | ||
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY | AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY | $67,545 |
| HRP GROUP, LLC | BGR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | $60,000 |
| ETSY | PUBLIC PRIVATE STRATEGIES | $45,000 |
| REVVITY, INC. | REVVITY, INC. | $35,000 |
| AMERICARBON | SUNDAY CREEK HORIZONS, LLC | $20,000 |
| APPALACHIAN CHILDREN COALITION | SUNDAY CREEK HORIZONS, LLC | $10,000 |
| FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS | FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS | undisclosed |
| BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP OBO MEDEXPERT INTERNATIONAL, INC. | NET CENTRIC ALLIANCE LLC | undisclosed |
| BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP OBO INVACARE AMERICA | NET CENTRIC ALLIANCE LLC | undisclosed |
| BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP OBO EPTURA, INC. | NET CENTRIC ALLIANCE LLC | undisclosed |
| BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP OBO WELLHIVE | NET CENTRIC ALLIANCE LLC | undisclosed |
| JUVENILE PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (JPMA) | ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS | undisclosed |
| BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP OBO BEEP, INC. | NET CENTRIC ALLIANCE LLC | undisclosed |
| BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK, LLP OBO BRUNO INDEPENDENT LIVING AIDS,INC | NET CENTRIC ALLIANCE LLC | undisclosed |
| TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Ken Calvert, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
Source: GovTrack.us roll call vote data.
