Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025
This bill strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by giving the Attorney General new authority to sue violators and seek penalties up to $10,000 per day for ongoing violations. It requires dealers and exhibitors to hold valid licenses for animal sales or transport and allows seized animals to be taken by the government if they’re harmed by violations. Fines collected from violations will fund temporary care for animals during legal cases. The law directly affects animal dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies (USDA and DOJ), clarifying that violations include breaches of related rules and regulations.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 30, 2025
Last action Apr 30, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 38 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Richard Blumenthal
DDemocratic
Co
Adam B. Schiff
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
Co
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
Co
Andy Kim
DDemocratic
Co
Angela D. Alsobrooks
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Ray Luján
DDemocratic
Co
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
Co
Brian Schatz
DDemocratic
Co
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
Co
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
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