FIGHT Act of 2023

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to provide for greater protection of roosters, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-risk Trafficking Act of 2023 FIGHT Act of 2023 2. Animal fighting (a) Definition of rooster Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2132 (p) The term rooster . (b) Animal fighting venture simulcasting prohibited Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156 (1) by striking the section designation and header and all that follows through It shall be unlawful 26. Sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in, attending, causing a minor to attend, or simulcasting an animal fighting venture (a) Sponsoring or exhibiting (1) In general It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture. (2) Attending or causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend It shall be unlawful ; and (2) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: (3) Animal venture simulcasting It shall be unlawful for any person to transmit or receive in any State simulcasting of an animal fighting venture. . (c) Use of Postal Service or other interstate instrumentality To transport roosters Section 26(c) of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156(c) (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting or To transport roosters venture (2) by striking speech for purposes of advertising speech— (1) for purposes of advertising ; (3) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (4) by adding at the end the following: (2) to transport a rooster. . (d) Civil citizen suits; seizure Section 26(e) of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156(e) (1) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through The Secretary or any other person authorized by him (e) Investigations; civil citizen suits (1) Investigation of violations by Secretary; assistance by other federal agencies; issuance of search warrant; forfeiture; cost recoverable in forfeiture or civil action The Secretary, or any other person authorized by the Secretary, ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Civil citizen suits (A) In general Any person may commence a civil suit in a district court of the United States on their own behalf to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this section. (B) Amount of fine For any person found to have violated a provision of this section in any suit brought under subparagraph (A), the district court may issue a fine in an amount not greater than $5,000 for each violation. (C) Requirement A person seeking to commence a civil suit under subparagraph (A) shall, at least 60 days before commencing the suit, submit to the Secretary and to the alleged violator written notice of the alleged violation of a provision of this section. (D) Limitation No action may be commenced under subparagraph (A)— (i) if the Secretary has commenced an action against the same person to impose a penalty pursuant to paragraph (1) for the same alleged violation; or (ii) if the United States has commenced, and is diligently prosecuting, a criminal action against the same person in a State or Federal court to redress the same alleged violation. (E) Jurisdiction A suit under this paragraph may be brought in the judicial district in which the alleged violation occurred. (F) Intervention The Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, may intervene on behalf of the United States as a matter of right in any civil suit brought under subparagraph (A). (G) Attorney’s fees The court, in issuing any final order in any suit brought under subparagraph (A), may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines such an award is appropriate. (3) Seizure Whoever is found, pursuant to an investigation under paragraph (1), to have violated subsection (a)(1) shall, in addition to the penalties applicable under paragraph (1), be subject to seizure of all real property, including any right, title, and interest (including any leasehold interest) in the whole of any lot or tract of land and any appurtenances or improvements, that is used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a violation of subsection (a)(1). . (e) Technical corrections (1) Section 26(h) of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156(h) (h) Conflict with State law The provisions of this Act shall not supersede or otherwise invalidate any such State, local, or municipal legislation or ordinance relating to animal fighting ventures except in case of a direct and irreconcilable conflict between any requirements thereunder and this Act or any rule, regulation, or standard hereunder. . (2) Section 3001(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting ( 7 U.S.C. 2156 is nonmailable

Summary: Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-risk Trafficking Act of 2023 or the FIGHT Act of 2023 This bill expands protections of animals provided under the Animal Welfare Act, including by prohibiting any (1) broadcasts from international, interstate, or intrastate sources of animal fighting ventures in the United States or U.S. territories; and (2) transport of certain mature roosters.