summary
Introduced
02/13/2019
02/13/2019
In Committee
02/13/2019
02/13/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
A bill to revise section 48 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes. This bill revises and expands criminal provisions with respect to animal crushing. It retains existing criminal offenses that prohibit knowingly creating or distributing an animal crush video using interstate commerce. The bill also adds a new provision to criminalize an intentional act of animal crushing. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both. It provides additional exceptions for conduct, or a video of conduct, including conduct that is (1) medical or scientific research, (2) necessary to protect the life or property of a person, (3) performed as part of euthanizing an animal, or (4) unintentional.
AI Summary
This bill, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, revises and expands the existing federal law on animal cruelty. It retains the current prohibition on creating and distributing "animal crush videos" using interstate commerce, and adds a new provision to criminalize intentional acts of "animal crushing" - purposefully crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or otherwise seriously injuring a live non-human mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian. Violators can face fines and/or up to 7 years in prison. The bill provides exceptions for certain activities like veterinary practices, food slaughter, hunting, and medical/scientific research. It also ensures enforcement is consistent with religious freedom laws. The bill aims to strengthen federal protections against malicious animal cruelty.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (49)
Pat Toomey (R)*,
Tammy Baldwin (D),
Michael Bennet (D),
Richard Blumenthal (D),
Cory Booker (D),
Sherrod Brown (D),
Richard Burr (R),
Maria Cantwell (D),
Ben Cardin (D),
Tom Carper (D),
Bob Casey (D),
Susan Collins (R),
Chris Coons (D),
Catherine Cortez Masto (D),
Tammy Duckworth (D),
Dick Durbin (D),
Dianne Feinstein (D),
Kirsten Gillibrand (D),
Kamala Harris (D),
Maggie Hassan (D),
Martin Heinrich (D),
Mazie Hirono (D),
Doug Jones (D),
Tim Kaine (D),
Angus King (I),
Amy Klobuchar (D),
Ed Markey (D),
Martha McSally (R),
Bob Menendez (D),
Jeff Merkley (D),
Chris Murphy (D),
Patty Murray (D),
Gary Peters (D),
Rob Portman (R),
Jack Reed (D),
Pat Roberts (R),
Jacky Rosen (D),
Bernie Sanders (I),
Chuck Schumer (D),
Rick Scott (R),
Jeanne Shaheen (D),
Kyrsten Sinema (I),
Tina Smith (D),
Debbie Stabenow (D),
Tom Udall (D),
Chris Van Hollen (D),
Mark Warner (D),
Elizabeth Warren (D),
Sheldon Whitehouse (D),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (on 02/13/2019)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/479/all-info |
BillText | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s479/BILLS-116s479is.pdf |
Bill | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s479/BILLS-116s479is.pdf.pdf |
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