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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4733 Introduced in House (IH)]

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) More humane treatment of livestock minimizes needless 
        suffering, results in safer and better working conditions for 
        persons engaged in the animal agricultural industry, brings 
        about improvement of products, and generates other benefits for 
        producers, processors, consumers, public health, and the 
        environment, which expedite an orderly flow of livestock 
        products in interstate and foreign commerce.
            (2) The Federal Government can lead by example in the 
        marketplace and encourage more humane practices by purchasing 
        products derived from livestock raised in compliance with this 
        Act.
    (b) Declaration of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
that the raising of livestock for food production shall be consistent 
with the basic principles of animal welfare.

SEC. 3. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL PROCUREMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS 
              DERIVED FROM CERTAIN ANIMALS.

    (a) Humane Practices Required.--A Federal agency may not purchase 
any food product derived from a covered animal unless the covered 
animal, during the entire period while covered by the definition in 
subsection (d)(1), was raised in compliance with subsection (b).
    (b) Compliance.--A covered animal is raised in compliance with the 
requirements of subsection (a) only if the animal was provided adequate 
space to--
            (1) stand up, lie down, and turn around freely; and
            (2) fully extend all limbs.
    (c) Exemptions.--Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to a 
covered animal--
            (1) during lawful transport;
            (2) during the slaughter of the covered animal in 
        compliance with Public Law 85-765 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.; 
        commonly known as the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958) 
        and other applicable law and regulations;
            (3) in lawful rodeo exhibitions, State or county fair 
        exhibitions, or other similar exhibitions;
            (4) in lawful scientific or agricultural research;
            (5) while undergoing an examination, test, treatment, or 
        operation for individualized veterinary purposes to improve the 
        well-being of the covered animal; or
            (6) in the case of a pig during pregnancy, during the 
        seven-day period immediately before the date on which the pig 
        is reasonably expected to give birth.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered animal'' means any pig during 
        pregnancy, calf raised for veal, or egg-laying hen used or 
        intended for use in food production.
            (2) The term ``fully extend all limbs'', with respect to a 
        covered animal, means the ability of the covered animal to 
        fully extend all limbs without touching the side of an 
        enclosure, including, in the case of egg-laying hens, fully 
        spreading both wings without touching the side of an enclosure 
        or other egg-laying hens.
            (3) The term ``turn around freely'', with respect to a 
        covered animal, means the ability of the covered animal to turn 
        in a complete circle without any impediment, including a 
        tether, and without touching the side of an enclosure.
    (e) Effect on Other Laws.--Nothing in this section shall modify, 
limit, or repeal any law in effect upon the date of the enactment of 
this Act or preempt any State or local law.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on the date that is two years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>
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