{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221073619/http://denham.house.gov/news/washington-post-congressmen-use-adorable-dogs-persuade-amtrak-allow-pets-trains", "The Washington Post: Congressmen use adorable dogs to persuade Amtrak to allow pets on trains", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Jeffrey Denham", "D000612", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Michael G. Grimm had one very compelling argument for why his new bill should become law.\n\u201cLook at that\u00a0face!\u201d the congressman gushed, showing off Sebastian, his beloved Yorkie, who was Wednesday\u2019s poster pooch for the Pets on Trains Act of 2013.\nSebastian, Grimm\u2019s Yorkie. (Robert O. Charles)\n\nGrimm and Sebastian headlined the news conference outside Union Station designed to pressure Amtrak to allow dogs and cats on pet-approved train cars. The event, heavy on canine cuteness and human speeches, featured bill sponsors Grimm, Rep. Jeff Denham (who brought his French bulldog, Lily) and Rep. Steve Cohen. A dozen other small dogs were there to amp up the cuteness factor, including Monkey, a King Charles spaniel, and Winston, a fairly dignified, Union Jack-sweater-wearing English bulldog.\nThe human celebrity was Hallmark Channel\u2019s Laura Nativo, resident pet-lifestyle expert and \u201cOne of the Eight People From the Dog World You Should Know,\u201d according to Dogster magazine. Cradling her pocket Pomeranian, Preston Casanova, Nativo declared it\u2019s unfair that puppies are\u00a0canina non grata\u00a0considering Amtrak actually allowed pets until 1976.\n\u201cIn our modern society, dogs and cats are frequently the subject of laws that remove them from the picture,\u201d she told the crowd. \u201cBut is that really in our best interest?\u201d\nWell, people are split on that. While some would love to take Spot home with them for Thanksgiving, other passengers might not be so sure.\nNot a problem, Grimm argues. \u201cThat\u2019s why you have a quiet car.\u201d And the bill has rules: Pets must be crated, and trips with pets can\u2019t be longer than 750 miles. The upside? Increased revenue and better morale for traveling pet parents.\nMonkey, a King Charles spaniel, belongs to Rep. Grimm\u2019s chief of staff.\n\nAmtrak put a stop to pets on trains in the \u201970s because things got . . . well, a little out of control, Amtrak chief executive Joe Boardman told us. To make this work, the company would have to crunch the numbers, including cleaning costs for the not-quite-train-trained. (Would trains stop for bathroom breaks?) Then there\u2019s the problem of pet owners who might want to bring their snakes and God knows what else on board. (Samuel L. Jackson, white courtesy phone.)\nStill, animal lovers Wednesday pulled out the most famous pro-pet argument. \u201cHarry Truman said, \u2018If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog,\u2019\u200a\u201d Cohen said. \u201cBut you have to get your dog to Washington. And Amtrak\u2019s the best way to do it.\u201d\nSource:\u00a0http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2013/11/21/congressmen-use-adorable-dogs-to-persuade-amtrak-to-allow-pets-on-trains/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221073619/http://denham.house.gov/news/washington-post-congressmen-use-adorable-dogs-persuade-amtrak-allow-pets-trains"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9142658673226833, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}