WASHINGTON (February 17, 2026) – The House Agriculture Committee released updated language for the Farm Bill last week, with Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson noting that updated legislation is long overdue.
The bill text has been praised by the American Kennel Club (AKC), a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, which highlighted the bill’s support for animal welfare and protections for dogs and their owners.
To better understand the bill’s potential impact on animals and animal welfare policy, consider Kathy Hessler. Hessler serves as assistant dean for animal law at the George Washington University Law School. She has taught animal law for more than two decades and serves as the inaugural dean for Animal Legal Education at GW.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Hessler, please contact Senior Media Relations Specialist Claire Sabin (claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu)).
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