1.
This Act may be cited as the
Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory
Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025
or the
Better CARE for Animals Act of
2025
.
2.
Strengthening animal welfare enforcement
(a)
Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7
U.S.C. 2132) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b), by striking of the United States or his
representative who shall be an employee of the United States
and
inserting or a representative of the Secretary of Agriculture, who
shall be an employee of the
;
(2)
in subsection (c)(1), by adding
or
at the end after the semicolon; and
(3)
in each of subsections (a) through (o)—
(A)
by inserting a subsection heading, the text of which comprises the
term defined in the subsection;
(B)
by reordering the subsections so as to appear in alphabetical order
based on the subsection headings (as so added); and
(C)
by redesignating the subsections (as so reordered) appropriately.
(b)
Sale or transportation without license
Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2134) is amended to read as
follows:
4.
Sale or transportation without license
No dealer or exhibitor shall do any
of the following in commerce: exhibit, purchase, offer to purchase,
sell, offer to sell, transport, or offer for transportation any animal,
unless the dealer or exhibitor has a valid license from the Secretary
that has not been suspended.
.
(c)
Investigations and inspections
Section 16(c) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2146(c)) is amended in the
fourth sentence by striking enforce, and to prevent and restrain
violations of this Act,
and inserting enforce, prevent, and
restrain violations of this Act, or any rule, standard, or regulation
promulgated pursuant to this Act,
.
(d)
Section 19 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2149) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by inserting , or any
rule, standard, or regulation promulgated thereunder,
before
shall
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(e)
Rewards and certain incidental expenses
With respect to the sums
received by the Secretary or the Attorney General as penalties or
fines for any violation of this Act or any rule, standard, or
regulation promulgated thereunder, the Secretary or the Attorney
General, as applicable, shall use those sums to pay the reasonable
and necessary costs incurred by any person in providing temporary
care for any animal pending the disposition of any civil or criminal
proceeding alleging a violation of this Act with respect to that
animal.
.
(e)
Enforcement by Attorney General
The Animal Welfare Act is amended by
inserting after section 19 (7 U.S.C. 2149) the following:
20.
Enforcement by Attorney General
(a)
The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate
district court of the United States for appropriate relief,
including a temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction (including for removal or relocation of animals), license
revocation, and civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation
for each day during which the violation continues, against any
person who violates any provision of this Act or any rule, standard,
or regulation promulgated thereunder.
(b)
Seizure and forfeiture of animals
(1)
Any animal that is subjected to conduct that constitutes a
violation of this Act, or any rule, standard, or regulation
promulgated thereunder, shall be subject to seizure and
forfeiture to the United States in accordance with chapter 46 of
title 18, United States Code.
(2)
Any person whose act or omission is the basis for a seizure
authorized by subparagraph (1) may be charged a reasonable fee
for expenses to the United States relating to the transfer and
care of the seized animal.
(c)
The judges of the district courts of the United States and United
States magistrate judges may, within their respective jurisdictions,
on proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause, issue such
warrants or other processes as may be required for enforcement of
this Act and any rule, standard, or regulation promulgated
thereunder.
(d)
(1)
No action taken by the Attorney General pursuant to this
section shall affect or limit the authority of the Secretary to
enforce any provision of this Act or any rule, standard, or
regulation thereunder.
(2)
No action taken by the Secretary shall affect or limit the
authority of the Attorney General under this Act.
.
(f)
Authority To apply for injunctions
Section 29(b) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2159(b)) is amended by
striking the second sentence.
(g)
The Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
30.
If any provision of this Act, or
the application thereof, is held invalid, the validity of the remainder
of this Act and the application of such provision to other persons and
circumstances shall not be affected.
.
(h)
Memorandum of understanding
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Attorney
General to carry out the authorities granted by the amendments made by this
section, including an agreement to provide the Attorney General with timely
information about violators who have multiple citations that seriously or
adversely affect the health or well-being of an animal.
3.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
section 16(c) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2146(c)) establishes the
jurisdiction of Federal courts to address violations of, and cases arising from
violations of, that Act and provides the Attorney General with the authority to
bring such cases in Federal court; and
(2)
the enforcement jurisdiction of the Federal courts, and the corresponding
enforcement authority of the Attorney General, include violations of the rules,
standards, and regulations promulgated under that Act.