Monday, April 12, 2004 NCC backs increased penalties for cockfighting WASHINGTON -- The National Chicken Council Executive Committee has voted to support legislation introduced in Congress that would impose stiffer penalties for the illegal movement of fighting roosters and paraphernalia associated with cockfighting. The legislation, "Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act," would make it a federal felony, rather than a misdemeanor under the current law, to transport fighting roosters interstate. Introduced as S. 736 and H.R. 1532, the legislation has been actively backed by the Humane Society of the United States, which requested NCC to lend its support. NCC said that in addition to being inhumane, the practice of cockfighting and the illegal interstate movement of fighting roosters pose a "serious and constant threat of disease transmission to the commercial industry." California Poultry Federation President Bill Mattos noted that "There is a great amount of support nationally to put more teeth into laws dealing with the movement of game fowl. California is very supportive on this issue, because we have seen from last year's END (exotic Newcastle disease) outbreak the consequences that can follow from the unregulated flow of cockfighting birds." Originally published Monday, April 12, 2004