I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1691 
To end the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps on animals in 
the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2007 
Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. BERKLEY, and Mr. 
MCNULTY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Ways and Means, Foreign Affairs, and Judiciary, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To end the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps 
on animals in the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Inhumane Trapping 
Prevention Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to end the need-
less maiming and suffering inflicted upon animals through 
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the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps by pro-
hibiting the import or export of, and the shipment in inter-
state commerce of, such traps and of articles of fur from 
animals that were trapped in such traps. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES. 
(a) PROHIBITED ACTS.—It shall be unlawful for any 
person— 
(1) to import, export, or transport in interstate 
commerce an article of fur, if any part or portion of 
such article is derived from an animal that was 
trapped in a conventional steel-jawed leghold trap; 
(2) to import, export, deliver, carry, or trans-
port by any means whatever, in interstate commerce, 
any conventional steel-jawed leghold trap; 
(3) to sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any 
conventional steel-jawed leghold trap that was deliv-
ered, carried, or transported in violation of para-
graph (2); or 
(4) to violate any rule made by the Secretary 
under this Act. 
(b) PENALTIES.—Whoever knowingly violates sub-
section (a) shall, in addition to any other penalty that may 
be imposed— 
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(1) for the first such violation, be imprisoned 
for not more than 5 days or fined under title 18, 
United States Code, or both; and 
(2) for each subsequent violation, be imprisoned 
for not more than two years or fined under title 18, 
United States Code, or both. 
SEC. 4. REWARDS. 
(a) GENERAL RULE.—The Secretary shall pay, to 
any person who furnishes information which leads to a 
conviction of a violation of any provision of this Act or 
any rule made under this Act, an amount equal to one- 
half of the fine paid pursuant to the conviction. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—Any officer or employee of the 
United States or of any State or local government who 
furnishes information or renders service in the perform-
ance of his or her official duties is not eligible for payment 
under this section. 
SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except with respect to violations 
of this Act to which subsection (b) applies, this Act and 
any rules made under this Act shall be enforced by the 
Secretary, who may utilize by agreement, with or without 
reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of 
any other Federal agency or any State agency for pur-
poses of enforcing this Act and such rules. 
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(b) IMPORT AND EXPORT VIOLATIONS.— 
(1) IMPORT VIOLATIONS.—The importation of 
articles in violation of section 3(a) shall be treated 
as a violation of the customs laws of the United 
States, and those provisions of law relating to viola-
tions of the customs laws of the United States shall 
apply thereto. 
(2) 
EXPORT
VIOLATIONS.—The 
authorities 
under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 
U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) (as continued in effect 
under the International Emergency Economic Pow-
ers Act), including penalties, shall be used to enforce 
the provisions of this Act relating to the export of 
articles in violation of section 3(a). 
(c) ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.—Any person hav-
ing authority to enforce this Act (except with respect to 
violations to which subsection (b) applies), may, in exer-
cising such authority— 
(1) detain for inspection, search, and seize any 
package, crate, or other container, including its con-
tents, and all accompanying documents, if such indi-
vidual has reasonable cause to suspect that in such 
package, crate, or other container are articles with 
respect to which a violation of this Act (except with 
respect to a violation to which subsection (b) ap-
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plies) has occurred, is occurring, or is about to 
occur; 
(2) make arrests without a warrant for any vio-
lation of this Act (except with respect to a violation 
to which subsection (b) applies) committed in his or 
her presence or view, or if the individual has prob-
able cause to believe that the person to be arrested 
has committed or is committing such a violation; 
and 
(3) execute and serve any arrest warrant, 
search warrant, or other warrant or criminal process 
issued by any judge or magistrate of any court of 
competent jurisdiction for enforcement of this Act 
(except with respect to violations to which subsection 
(b) applies). 
(d) FORFEITURE.— 
(1) GENERAL RULE.—Except with respect to 
exports to which the provisions of the Export Ad-
ministration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et 
seq.) (as continued in effect under the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act) apply, and im-
ports to which the customs laws of the United States 
apply, pursuant to subsection (b), any article of fur 
or conventional steel-jawed leghold trap taken, pos-
sessed, sold, purchased, offered for sale or purchase, 
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imported, exported, transported, delivered, received, 
carried, or shipped in violation of this Act or any 
rule made under this Act, shall be subject to for-
feiture to the United States. Those provisions of law 
relating to— 
(A) the seizure, summary and judicial for-
feiture, and condemnation of property for viola-
tions of the customs laws of the United States, 
(B) the disposition of such property or the 
proceeds from the sale thereof, 
(C) the remission or mitigation of such for-
feitures, and 
(D) the compromise of claims, 
shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or 
alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions 
of this subsection, insofar as applicable and not in-
consistent with this Act. 
(2) ENFORCEMENT.—Such duties as are im-
posed upon the customs officer or any other person 
with respect to the seizure and forfeiture of property 
under the customs laws of the United States may be 
performed with respect to seizures and forfeitures of 
property under this subsection by the Secretary or 
such officers and employees as may be authorized or 
designated for that purpose by the Secretary, or, 
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