Legislation
Below are several legislative proposals currently under consideration by Congress. This list is not exhaustive and inclusion does not represent an endorsement by the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus or individual members of the caucus. This list will be updated periodically to reflect changes in status and newly introduced bills.
2010 CITES Conference
2010 CITES Conference – H. Res. 1180 – Resolution urging the U.S. delegation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to: (1) support proposals to assign "endangered"......
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Adoptions of Military Working Dogs
Adoptions of Military Working Dogs – H.R. 4639 – To authorize the adoption of a military working dog by the family of a deceased or seriously wounded member of the......
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Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Link
Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Link – H. Res. 191 – To designate May 2009 as National Link Awareness Month in recognition of the link between animal cruelty and other forms of......
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Animal Crush Videos
Animal Crush Videos – H.R. 5092 – To narrowly prohibit the interstate sale of “animal crush videos” for commercial gain, specifically exempting videos depicting hunting or other legal activities.Lead Sponsors: ......
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Bear Protection Act
Bear Protection Act – H.R. 3480 – To prohibit the importation, exportation, and interstate trade of bear viscera and items, products, or substances containing, or labeled or advertised as containing,......
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BEST Practices Act
BEST Practices Act – H.R. 4269 - To require that only human-based methods be used for training members of the Armed Forces in the treatment of severe combat and chemical......
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Bird-Safe Buildings Act
Bird-Safe Buildings Act – H.R. 4797 – To direct the General Services Administration to (1) incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings and (2) address interior and......
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Canadian Seals
Canadian Seals – S. Res. 84 – To urge Canada to end its commercial seal hunt.Lead Sponsors: Sens. Levin and CollinsOn 5/7/09, the resolution was approved by the full Senate......
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Captive Primate Safety Act
Captive Primate Safety Act – H.R. 80 / S. 462 – To prohibit interstate and foreign commerce in nonhuman primates for the pet trade. Lead Sponsors: Reps. Blumenauer, Kirk / Sens.......
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Crane Conservation Act
Crane Conservation Act – H.R. 388 / S. 197 – To assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and providing, through projects of experts in crane conservation, financial resources......
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Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act
Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act – H.R. 4356 - To codify the USDA ban on the slaughter of downed cattle and strengthen it to ensure immediate humane euthanasia,......
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Great Ape Conservation Act Reauthorization
Great Ape Conservation Act Reauthorization – H.R. 4416 - To reauthorize and amend the Great Ape Conservation Act. Amendments include allowing multi-year grants (current law allows only one-year grants).Lead Sponsor: ......
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Great Ape Protection Act
Great Ape Protection Act – H.R. 1326 – To phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire all (approximately 600) federally owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and codify the......
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Great Cats and Rare Canids Act
Great Cats and Rare Canids Act – H.R. 411 / S. 529 – To assist in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources......
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Horse Transportation Safety Act
Horse Transportation Safety Act – H.R. 305 – To prohibit the interstate transport of horses in a motor vehicle containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another;......
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Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act
Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act – H.R. 3501 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of up to $3,500 for veterinary and......
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International Whale Conservation and Protection Act
International Whale Conservation and Protection Act – H.R. 2455 – To amend the Whale Conservation and Protection Study Act to promote international whale conservation, protection, and research.Lead Sponsors: Del. Faleomavaega......
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Invasive Pythons and Large Constrictor Snakes
Invasive Pythons and Large Constrictor Snakes – H.R. 2811 / S. 373 – To amend the Lacey Act to add certain species of large constrictor snakes to the list of......
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Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance
Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance – H.R. 844 / S. 859 – To provide grants for marine mammal rescue and disentanglement.Lead Sponsors: Rep. Don Young / Sen. CantwellOn 3/2/09, H.R. 844......
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Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act
Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act – H.R. 509 – To authorize an additional five years of grants for marine turtle conservation projects in foreign countries, expand eligibility to include projects......
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Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalties
Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalties – H.R. 2062 / S. 2811 – To establish felony penalties for intentional take of migratory birds and other intentional violations of the Migratory Bird...Read...
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Military Working Dogs
Military Working Dogs – H. Res. 812 - Recognizing the significant contributions of the Military Working Dog (MWD) Program to the United States Armed Forces.Lead Sponsor: Rep. Lance... Read more...
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National Animal Rescue Day
National Animal Rescue Day – H. Res. 767 - Expressing support for designation of a National Animal Rescue Day to create awareness, educate humans in the importance of adoption, and......
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Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Reauthorization
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Reauthorization – H.R. 2213 / S. 690 – To extend through Fiscal Year 2015 the law authorizing grants to assist local conservation efforts for Neotropical......
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Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act
Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act – H.R. 669 – To prevent the introduction and establishment in the U.S. of nonnative wildlife species that may hurt the economy, environment, human health,......
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Pet Safety and Protection Act
Pet Safety and Protection Act – H.R. 3907 / S. 1834 - To prohibit the sale of "random source" (as opposed to purpose-bred) dogs and cats by Class B dealers......
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Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act
Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act – H.R. 1549 / S. 619 – To phase out the routine non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in farm animals – a common practice......
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Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act – H.R. 503 / S. 727 – To prohibit the knowing and intentional possession, shipping, transport, purchase, sale, delivery, or receipt of a horse for......
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Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act
Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act – H.R. 4733 - To promote the well-being of farm animals by requiring that federal agencies purchase pork products, veal, and eggs only from......
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Protect America's Wildlife Act
Protect America's Wildlife Act– H.R. 3381 / S. 1535 – To amend the federal Airborne Hunting Act to bar the shooting of wolves, bears, and other predators from aircraft except......
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Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act
Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act – H.R. 3710 – To prohibit the use of body-gripping traps (defined as "any device intended to kill or capture wildlife by physically restraining any......
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Restore Our American Mustangs Act
Restore Our American Mustangs Act – H.R. 1018 / S. 1579 – To restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses and burros (a protection undercut......
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Safe Drug Disposal Act
Safe Drug Disposal Act – H.R. 1191 – To encourage the proper disposal of unwanted medications, including veterinary drugs, thereby reducing the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in waterways and the diversion of those......
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Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans
Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans – H.R. 3266 / S. 1495 – To establish a program of grants to nonprofit groups to encourage the use of service and therapy dogs......
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Shark Conservation Act
Shark Conservation Act– H.R. 81 / S. 850 – To end the cruel practice of shark finning (cutting off sharks’ fins and throwing the sharks back in the water, often......
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Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act
Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act – H.R. 556 / S. 1748 – To establish a program of research, recovery, and other activities to provide for the recovery of......
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Sportsmanship in Hunting Act
Sportsmanship in Hunting Act – H.R. 2308 – To prohibit “Internet hunting” (computer-assisted remote hunting where guns are aimed and fired with the click of a computer mouse), and to......
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Truth in Fur Labeling Act
Truth in Fur Labeling Act Truth in Fur Labeling Act – H.R. 2480 / S. 1076 – To require species-specific labeling on any fur product regardless of value, in order...
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Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day
Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Day – H.Res. 688 / S.Res. 221 and S.Res. 283 – To express support for the goals and ideals of the first annual National Wild......
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Wildlife/Zoological Veterinarians
Wildlife/Zoological Veterinarians – H.R. 4497 - To expand the workforce of veterinarians specialized in the care and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems, and to develop educational programs focused......
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