Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick spent Tuesday morning on Capitol Hill, throwing his support behind a bill to crack down on dogfighting.
The Virginia native appeared before the House Judiciary Subcommittee alongside the Humane Society.
Proposed bill H.R. 2492 would strengthen anti-animal-fighting laws, penalizing those who finance and take children to dogfights and cockfights. It would also be a federal offense for spectators to be at animal fights.
Sponsors of the legislation introduced by Reps. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) said laws against animal fighting need to be strengthened.
"Help us to reach out to these kids before they go down the wrong path," Vick said.
It is illegal in 49 states to be a knowing spectator at an animal fight, while 28 impose felony-level penalties on those attending, the Associated Press reported.
The bill would impose penalties of up to a year in prison and fines for attending an animal fight, and a penalty of up to three years in prison and fines for bringing or allowing a minor to attend.
Vick spent 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring. Since his release, the quarterback has traveled the country as an advocate against the practice, speaking at churches and schools along with Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States. Pacelle told the news conference, "I had a lot of soul searching to do" before deciding to partner with Vick in efforts to stop animal fighting events.
Vick, a Hampton, Va., native, said that while he became involved in dogfighting in his youth, he was unaware that more children are now attending these gruesome events, the Associated Press reported. He said his own experience taught him that attending animal fights has an impact on children.
"It's up to the parents to take responsibility and make sure it doesn't happen," he said.
Stripped of his endorsement deals at the time of his incarceration, corporations are coming around to the post-jail Vick. The Eagles quarterback signed a new, long-term sponsorship deal with Nike this summer.
