[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5557 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5557

            To promote the humane treatment of farm animals.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 2006

Mr. Shays (for himself and Mr. DeFazio) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in 
     addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
            To promote the humane treatment of farm animals.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) More humane treatment of livestock minimizes needless 
        suffering, results in safer and better working conditions for 
        persons engaged in the animal agricultural industry, brings 
        about improvement of products, and generates other benefits for 
        producers, processors, consumers, public health, and the 
        environment, which expedite an orderly flow of livestock 
        products in interstate and foreign commerce.
            (2) The Federal Government can lead by example in the 
        marketplace and encourage more humane practices by purchasing 
        products derived from livestock raised more humanely.
    (b) Declaration of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
that the raising of livestock, including pigs, cattle, chickens, 
turkeys, ducks, geese, goats, horses, mules, sheep, rabbits, ostriches, 
emus, rheas, and other non-aquatic animals used, or intended for use, 
as food or fiber or to produce food or fiber, shall be carried out only 
by methods that promote animal welfare.

SEC. 3. HUMANE METHODS FOR FEDERAL PROCUREMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Federal Government may not purchase any 
product derived from a covered animal used or intended for use as food 
or fiber or to produce food or fiber unless such covered animal is 
raised in compliance with subsection (b).
    (b) Compliance.--A covered animal is raised in compliance with this 
subsection only if the method of raising such covered animal provides--
            (1) adequate shelter which allows sufficient space for the 
        covered animal to stand, lie down, get up, walk, move his or 
        her head freely, rest, and turn around completely and fully 
        extend all limbs or wings without touching any part of an 
        enclosure;
            (2) daily access to adequate food and water sufficient to 
        ensure the health and well-being of the covered animal without 
        forced feeding or feed withdrawal; and
            (3) adequate veterinary care, including prompt treatment or 
        humane euthanasia of a sick or injured covered animal.

SEC. 4. EXEMPTIONS.

    Nothing in this Act shall apply to a covered animal--
            (1) during lawful transport;
            (2) in lawful rodeo exhibitions, State or county fair 
        exhibitions, or other similar exhibitions;
            (3) in lawful scientific or agricultural research; or
            (4) while undergoing an examination, test, treatment, or 
        operation for veterinary purposes to improve the well-being of 
        such covered animal.

SEC. 5. COVERED ANIMAL DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``covered animal'' means any non-aquatic farm 
animal, including a pig, head of cattle, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, 
goat, horse, mule, sheep, rabbit, ostrich, emu, or rhea.

SEC. 6. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.

    Nothing in this Act shall modify, limit, or repeal any law in 
effect upon the date of the enactment of this Act or preempt any State 
or local law.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on the date that is two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
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