WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., on Wednesday applauded House passage of his bipartisan legislation with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to outlaw a heinous form of animal abuse known as “crushing.”

The Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act would ensure that individuals found guilty of torturing animals face felony charges, fines, and up to seven years in prison.

“People who intentionally harm animals are among the most depraved individuals in our society and must be punished,” said Toomey. “I applaud the House — especially the work done by the Pennsylvania delegation — for passing of the PACT Act today. The Senate approved this legislation unanimously the last two sessions of Congress, and I hope we will move quickly to approve it once more and send this bipartisan bill to President Trump for his signature.”

Despite taking steps in 2010 to ban the sale of videos depicting animal crushing, Congress failed to make the underlying act of crushing a federal crime. This means that — even when there is overwhelming evidence that animal abuse is taking place — federal law enforcement is unable to protect animals or arrest known abusers. The PACT Act would ensure that individuals found guilty of torturing animals face felony charges, fines, and up to seven years in prison. The PACT Act passed the Senate with unanimous support in 2017, but stalled in the U.S. House.

The PACT Act is endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, National Sheriffs’ Association, Fraternal Order of Police, and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.