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<bill bill-stage="Introduced-in-House" dms-id="H9BF84602BFE84533A88ABDE4D94EEAEF" public-private="public" key="H" bill-type="olc"><metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
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<dc:title>113 HR 9309 IH: To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for greater protection of roosters, and for other purposes.</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. House of Representatives</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2022-11-16</dc:date>
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<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
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<distribution-code display="yes">I</distribution-code><congress display="yes">117th CONGRESS</congress><session display="yes">2d Session</session><legis-num display="yes">H. R. 9309</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES</current-chamber><action display="yes"><action-date date="20221116">November 16, 2022</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="A000378">Mrs. Axne</sponsor> (for herself, <cosponsor name-id="B001298">Mr. Bacon</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="A000369">Mr. Amodei</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="C001125">Mr. Carter of Louisiana</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="C001103">Mr. Carter of Georgia</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="F000466">Mr. Fitzpatrick</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="M000194">Ms. Mace</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="M000312">Mr. McGovern</cosponsor>, and <cosponsor name-id="Q000023">Mr. Quigley</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the <committee-name committee-id="HAG00">Committee on Agriculture</committee-name>, and in addition to the Committee on <committee-name committee-id="HGO00">Oversight and Reform</committee-name>, 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</action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title display="yes">To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for greater protection of roosters, and for other purposes.</official-title></form><legis-body id="H4C1E59A885A8469EAE8C17979606FA4D" style="OLC"><section id="H84EB39CB45A944BFAA0916E4E013CB4A" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Definition of rooster</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2132">7 U.S.C. 2132</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="traditional" id="H3820A0D9D4134B568BE9CFA21DA138B8" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HBD556F8DE8CF4D05937CAACA8DC7A986"><enum>(p)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>rooster</quote> means any male member of <italic>Gallus Domesticus</italic> species older than 6 months.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H5DF95AB032F64C9689997BDDC563E171"><enum>2.</enum><header>Use of Postal Service or other interstate instrumentality to transport roosters</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 26(c) of the Animal Welfare Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2156">7 U.S.C. 2156(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H5B57859FE8744BE59343330C5E0D45BD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the subsection heading, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">or to transport roosters</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">instrumentality</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2F3DAB08DA6F40DF9AE0BC4ED97F7144"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>for purposes of advertising</quote> and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H95A9992ED03D4496A985045522666F8D" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HB8F8068871554F6D88FFBCC076AF89B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for purposes of advertising</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H7215814A14B64E1D9FC8B40BFA047492"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking <quote>United States.</quote> and inserting <quote>United States; or</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB943A9327B7242FD9D7FFA355BCC36E2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H872A5D0273BA47C1815E824BFDF4E69F" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H719A8739DD8148FD9300B336FFB417F1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to transport a rooster.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="HC86F99708C7A4906B9C165323875CCDE"><enum>3.</enum><header>Animal fighting venture simulcasting prohibited</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 26(a) of the Animal Welfare Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2156">7 U.S.C. 2156(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H30381BBC9780433FB316B8D3925DAEA9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the subsection heading by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Sponsoring or Exhibiting an Animal in, Attending, or Causing an Individual Who Has Not Attained the Age of 16 To Attend, an Animal Fighting Venture</header-in-text></quote> and inserting the following: <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Sponsoring or Exhibiting an Animal in, Attending, Causing a Minor To Attend, or Simulcasting an Animal Fighting Venture</header-in-text></quote>; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H12A8B5DCACC040BE931898D7CC958746"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HD6F2E53D30484B5FA0840EA96B7641BD" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H39C6085B807F4A3E8A8F342A6DA46485"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Animal venture simulcasting</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person shall transmit or receive international, interstate or intrastate simulcasting of an animal fighting venture in the United States or any territory of the United States. </text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="HDC07754CF5404A4BAB9FFB2A3CF4DD8F"><enum>4.</enum><header>Civil citizen suits; seizure</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 26(e) of the Animal Welfare Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2156">7 U.S.C. 2156(e)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HA8A837C3549F4C1984B79C67DA79092B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Investigation of Violations by Secretary;</header-in-text></quote> and all that follows through <quote>The Secretary or any other person authorized by him</quote> and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HFFB1513F62C0417CBB96BAB34D365CFB" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H7F257D72FF46449987B01D4CA40A760F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Investigations; civil citizen suits</header><paragraph id="H9731BA859C4C418E803A02E9E496A3AB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Investigation of Violations by Secretary; Assistance by Other Federal Agencies; Issuance of Search Warrant; Forfeiture; Costs Recoverable in Forfeiture or Civil Action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, or any other person authorized by the Secretary,</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H4053CA446DDB450391B08AB9DB941544"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H9E8A41E895B04F8199EBA9F06E9205C2" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HC18E9F395015484BAF1463F96410793E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Civil citizen suits</header><subparagraph id="HF6C28E05F8454DAAAF70EE12CC6E7C2C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any person may commence a civil suit in Federal district court on their own behalf to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this section. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA2557297480C431DBE1E2215F481E402"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Amount of fine</header><text>For any person found to have violated a provision of this section in any suit brought pursuant to subparagraph (A), the court may issue a fine in an amount not greater than $5,000 for each violation. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE32C721578AE49868D8906BF30528E07"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>No action may be commenced under subparagraph (A)—</text><clause id="H86AC224E17694F35B3AB7851ED19C57D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>prior to 60 days after written notice of the violation has been given to the Secretary, and to any alleged violator of any such provision;</text></clause><clause id="HE59CC31402EC45478DF57A1BEE44FABE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the Secretary has commenced an action to impose a penalty pursuant to paragraph (1); or</text></clause><clause id="HF83151BE3FA2486A956995485E12D1EC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>if the United States has commenced, and is diligently prosecuting, a criminal action in a court of the United States or a State to redress a violation of any provision of this section.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H99AE916617F540FDAE267F81C07F0C3A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Jurisdiction</header><text>Any suit under this paragraph may be brought in the judicial district in which the violation occurs. In any such suit under this paragraph, the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, may intervene on behalf of the United States as a matter of right. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0378621A252A411DB1026F2755694264"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Attorney’s fees</header><text>The court, in issuing any final order in any suit brought pursuant to subparagraph (A), may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD0F0E9265A4243C7A56EE8431362B628"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Seizure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whoever is found, pursuant to an investigation under paragraph (1) of this subsection, to have violated subsection (a)(1) shall, in addition to such penalties applicable under paragraph (1) of this subsection, be subject to seizure of all real property, including any right, title, and interest (including any leasehold interest) in the whole of any lot or tract of land and any appurtenances or improvements, which is used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a violation of subsection (a)(1). </text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="H094FC8D73A1E43AA896B03FAD28ECB88"><enum>5.</enum><header>Technical corrections</header><subsection id="H6D30DEB655C94DDF8FD86C9704E4317A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agricultural Act of <enum-in-header>2014</enum-in-header></header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective as if included in the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/113/79">Public Law 113–79</external-xref>), section 12308(b)(1) of such Act is amended—</text><paragraph id="H766208D420BF45689A78F1ED17214227"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3CC7931F93E740159838971592DAD9AE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H122E0D37EF6B4283A031CB33C1679F25" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="H03973386E1F54A9C9E4DD8967AFC72E4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="HDAA2D256E7B644C98E819319E934AF3C"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the heading, by striking <quote>In General</quote> and inserting <quote>Sponsoring or Exhibiting</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="HF3EBEEB46420407D9A311361B1B023E4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>paragraph (2)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (3)</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H740EB59EA29F4B369E97A39F0B3E506A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCF467D6178D640FBAC6E5E06899B96AE"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H6914A626821744E889E6D058CA8E1063" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HEFF94708B6D74666B50645C4B508B8DD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Attending or causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be unlawful for any person to—</text><subparagraph id="HD534A62C0B7B46F5B8ED81A76BFC1F40"><enum>(A)</enum><text>knowingly attend an animal fighting venture; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0A77F723F78D401AA590C84638430B99"><enum>(B)</enum><text>knowingly cause an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend an animal fighting venture.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD89AC2A6BF36421FBD0706F7994E7E79"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Animal Welfare Act</header><text>Section 26(h) of the Animal Welfare Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2156">7 U.S.C. 2156(h)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H68A5AF22BC0749B5B9A38D8230C7D1FB" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H01E6E3B638694CE98650008E70B08A8B"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Conflict with State law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The provisions of this Act shall not supersede or otherwise invalidate any such State, local, or municipal legislation or ordinance relating to animal fighting ventures except in case of a direct and irreconcilable conflict between any requirements thereunder and this Act or any rule, regulation, or standard hereunder.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HFCBF54AB12B9479281CD948B2E32C802"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Nonmailable matter</header><text>Section 3001(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>title 18,</quote> and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: <quote>title 18, or section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act, is nonmailable.</quote>. </text></subsection></section></legis-body></bill> 

