[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A BILL TO END THE USE OF STEEL JAW LEGHOLD TRAPS ON ANIMALS IN THE 
                             UNITED STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Lowey] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to end 
the use of steel jaw leghold traps. More than 50 of our colleagues have 
already endorsed this legislation. I want to be very clear: this bill 
would not end trapping, but would simply end the use of this 
particularly barbaric instrument. Less cruel alternatives do, in fact, 
exist.
  Mr. Speaker, this device was invented in the 1820's and has continued 
to inflict needless pain and suffering for over 170 years. Mr. Speaker, 
since then we've passed a host of animal welfare statutes, including 
the Humane Slaughter Act and the Cruelty to Animals Act, to name just 
two. Yet we continue to allow the use of a device that slams with bone-
crushing force upon any animal that steps into it. This trap does not 
discriminate between the front paw of a fox, the hind leg of a golden 
retriever, or the hand of a small child. It is a brutality that we 
should stop.
  More than 60 countries--including the European Union--have recognized 
and acknowledged the inhumanity of these traps. As of January 1, 1996, 
countries that have not ended the use of this device will no longer be 
permitted to sell furs in European markets. Unless we act now and 
follow their wise lead, the United States will be sanctioned as one of 
those countries. Mr. Speaker, some trappers are concerned that passing 
this bill would require adopting alternative trapping methods that 
already exist. That is true. But they must understand that, without 
this law, the demand for their furs will decline when the only buyers 
to be found are those within our borders.
  Mr. Speaker, most Americans support the abolition of steel jaw 
leghold traps. It's time to join the growing circle of enlightened 
nations that have realized that they can end the use of these 
instruments without killing the trapping industry. If we don't act now, 
both the animals and trappers themselves will suffer the consequences. 
I encourage my colleagues to join this effort to make this sensible 
change.




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