Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act
Summary
Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act This bill revises the licensing process of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for animal dealers and exhibitors to expand USDA's oversight and enforcement of animal welfare requirements. Dealers and exhibitors must apply to USDA for licenses or renewal licenses each year. In order to obtain the licenses or renewals, dealers and exhibitors must meet certain standards for the humane treatment of animals and pass inspections as specified by this bill. USDA may not issue or renew such licenses if the dealers or exhibitors have violated laws relating to animals or if the issuance of the licenses would facilitate the circumvention of state or local laws that prohibit the private ownership of certain animals. Further, USDA must suspend the licenses of dealers or exhibitors whose violations present a risk to animal welfare. USDA must revoke the licenses if the violations persist or if the licensees commit multiple violations. Dealers and exhibitors with suspended or revoked licenses may not be (1) granted another license, (2) granted another license through another person or entity, or (3) employed by another licensee to work with animals during the period of the suspension or revocation.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 6, 2023
Last action Jul 28, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jul 28, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
lower
Jun 6, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
lower
Jun 6, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 34 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Raja Krishnamoorthi
DDemocratic
Co
Adam B. Schiff
DDemocratic
Co
Adam Smith
DDemocratic
Co
Andy Kim
DDemocratic
Co
Betty McCollum
DDemocratic
Co
Brian K. Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
Co
David J. Trone
DDemocratic
Co
Derek Kilmer
DDemocratic
Co
Earl Blumenauer
DDemocratic
Co
Eleanor Holmes Norton
DDemocratic
Co
Gerald E. Connolly
DDemocratic
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