I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4733 

To promote the well-being of farm animals by requiring Federal agencies 

to procure food products derived from certain animals only from sources 

that raised the animals free from cruelty and abuse, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 2, 2010 

Ms. WATSON (for herself and Mr. GALLEGLY) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 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 well-being of farm animals by requiring 

Federal agencies to procure food products derived from 

certain animals only from sources that raised the animals 

free from cruelty and abuse, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Prevention of Farm 

5 Animal Cruelty Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY. 

2 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) More humane treatment of livestock mini4 mizes needless suffering, results in safer and better 

5 working conditions for persons engaged in the ani6 mal agricultural industry, brings about improvement 

7 of products, and generates other benefits for pro8 ducers, processors, consumers, public health, and the 

9 environment, which expedite an orderly flow of live10 stock products in interstate and foreign commerce. 

11 (2) The Federal Government can lead by exam12 ple in the marketplace and encourage more humane 

13 practices by purchasing products derived from live14 stock raised in compliance with this Act. 

15 (b) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 

16 United States that the raising of livestock for food produc17 tion shall be consistent with the basic principles of animal 

18 welfare. 

19 SEC. 3. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL PRO20 CUREMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS DERIVED 

21 FROM CERTAIN ANIMALS. 

22 (a) HUMANE PRACTICES REQUIRED.—A Federal 

23 agency may not purchase any food product derived from 

24 a covered animal unless the covered animal, during the 

25 entire period while covered by the definition in subsection 

26 (d)(1), was raised in compliance with subsection (b). 


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1 (b) COMPLIANCE.—A covered animal is raised in 

2 compliance with the requirements of subsection (a) only 

3 if the animal was provided adequate space to— 

4 (1) stand up, lie down, and turn around freely; 

5 and 

6 (2) fully extend all limbs. 

7 (c) EXEMPTIONS.—Subsections (a) and (b) shall not 

8 apply to a covered animal— 

9 (1) during lawful transport; 

10 (2) during the slaughter of the covered animal 

11 in compliance with Public Law 85–765 (7 U.S.C. 

12 1901 et seq.; commonly known as the Humane 

13 Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958) and other appli14 cable law and regulations; 

15 (3) in lawful rodeo exhibitions, State or county 

16 fair exhibitions, or other similar exhibitions; 

17 (4) in lawful scientific or agricultural research; 

18 (5) while undergoing an examination, test, 

19 treatment, or operation for individualized veterinary 

20 purposes to improve the well-being of the covered 

21 animal; or 

22 (6) in the case of a pig during pregnancy, dur23 ing the seven-day period immediately before the date 

24 on which the pig is reasonably expected to give birth. 

25 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) The term ‘‘covered animal’’ means any pig 

2 during pregnancy, calf raised for veal, or egg-laying 

3 hen used or intended for use in food production. 

4 (2) The term ‘‘fully extend all limbs’’, with re5 spect to a covered animal, means the ability of the 

6 covered animal to fully extend all limbs without 

7 touching the side of an enclosure, including, in the 

8 case of egg-laying hens, fully spreading both wings 

9 without touching the side of an enclosure or other 

10 egg-laying hens. 

11 (3) The term ‘‘turn around freely’’, with respect 

12 to a covered animal, means the ability of the covered 

13 animal to turn in a complete circle without any im14 pediment, including a tether, and without touching 

15 the side of an enclosure. 

16 (e) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Nothing in this sec17 tion shall modify, limit, or repeal any law in effect upon 

18 the date of the enactment of this Act or preempt any State 

19 or local law. 

20 SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

21 This Act shall take effect on the date that is two 

22 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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