I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2016 

To end the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 23, 2015 

Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. COHEN, 

Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. POCAN, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. HASTINGS, 

and Mr. MEEKS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To end the use of body-gripping traps in the National 

Wildlife Refuge System. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Refuge From Cruel 

5 Trapping Act’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. POSSESSION OR USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP PRO2 HIBITED. 

3 The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration 

4 Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) is amended by add5 ing at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 6. POSSESSION OR USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP 

7 PROHIBITED. 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—No person may possess or use 

9 a body-gripping trap in the System. 

10 ‘‘(b) ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.—Notwithstanding 

11 section 4(f), a person who possesses or uses a body-grip12 ping trap in the System shall be subject to the following: 

13 ‘‘(1) In the case of a first offense, a civil fine 

14 of not more than $500 imposed by the Secretary for 

15 each body-gripping trap possessed or used. 

16 ‘‘(2) In the case of a subsequent offense— 

17 ‘‘(A) a civil fine of not more than $1,000 

18 imposed by the Secretary for each body-grip19 ping trap possessed or used; 

20 ‘‘(B) imprisonment for not more than 180 

21 days; or 

22 ‘‘(C) both a civil fine and imprisonment in 

23 accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B). 

24 ‘‘(c) FORFEITURE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP.—Any 

25 body-gripping trap that is possessed or used in violation 

26 of this section, and any wildlife captured by the use of 

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1 such trap, including the pelt or raw fur, shall be subject 

2 to forfeiture to the United States in accordance with the 

3 provisions of chapter 46 of title 18, United States Code, 

4 relating to civil forfeitures. 

5 ‘‘(d) PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS AND OTHER ASSO6 CIATED EXPENSES.—A person found to be in violation of 

7 subsection (a) shall pay all court costs associated there8 with. 

9 ‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 120 days after 

10 the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 

11 shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this sec12 tion. 

13 ‘‘(f) BODY-GRIPPING TRAP DEFINED.—As used in 

14 this section, the term ‘body-gripping trap’— 

15 ‘‘(1) except as provided in paragraph (3), 

16 means any device that is intended to kill or capture 

17 wildlife by physically restraining any part of the ani18 mal; 

19 ‘‘(2) includes any— 

20 ‘‘(A) steel-jaw, padded, or other modified 

21 leghold trap; 

22 ‘‘(B) kill-type trap; 

23 ‘‘(C) snare trap; or 

24 ‘‘(D) modified version of any such trap; 

25 and 

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1 ‘‘(3) does not include any— 

2 ‘‘(A) cage or box trap; or 

3 ‘‘(B) suitcase-type live beaver trap.’’. 

Æ 

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