I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5429
To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect and promote the public
safety and interstate commerce by establishing Federal criminal penalties
and civil remedies for certain violent, threatening, obstructive and de-
structive conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere
with persons seeking to operate animal enterprises, and for other pur-
poses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 10, 2000.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect and pro-
mote the public safety and interstate commerce by estab-
lishing Federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for
certain violent, threatening, obstructive and destructive
conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere
with persons seeking to operate animal enterprises, and
for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Researchers and
Farmers Freedom From Terrorism Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. RESEARCHERS AND FARMERS FREEDOM FROM
TERRORISM.
Section 1961(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code,
is amended by inserting ‘‘43 (relating to animal enterprise
terrorism), section’’ after ‘‘Section’’.
SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF PENALTIES FOR ANIMAL ENTER-
PRISE TERRORISM.
Section 43 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘inten-
tionally’’ each place it appears; and
(B) by striking ‘‘one year’’ and inserting
‘‘five years’;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as
paragraph (3);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
following new paragraph (2):
‘‘(2) EXPLOSIVES OR ARSON.—Whoever in the
course of a violation of subsection (a) maliciously
damages or destroys, or attempts to damage or de-
stroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building,
vehicle, or other real or personal property used by
the animal enterprise shall be imprisoned for not
less than 5 years and not more than 20 years, fined
under this title, or both.’’; and
(C) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated,
by striking ‘‘under this title and’’ and all that
follows through the period and inserting ‘‘under
this title, imprisoned for life or for any term of
years, or sentenced to death.’’; and
(3) in subsection (d)(1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (B);
(B) by inserting ‘‘or’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (C); and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) the offices or headquarters of any en-
terprise or event described in subparagraph (A),
(B). or (C);’’.
SEC. 
4. 
NATIONAL 
ANIMAL 
TERRORISM 
AND
ECOTERRORISM INCIDENT CLEARINGHOUSE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish and
maintain a national clearinghouse for information on inci-
dents of crime and terrorism—
(1) committed against or directed at any animal
enterprise;
(2) committed against or directed at any com-
mercial activity because of the perceived impact or
effect of such commercial activity on the environ-
ment; or
(3) committed against or directed at any person
because of such person’s perceived connection with
or support of any enterprise or activity described in
paragraph (1) or (2).
(b) CLEARINGHOUSE.—The clearinghouse established
under subsection (a) shall—
(1) accept, collect, and maintain information on
incidents described in subsection (a) that is sub-
mitted to the clearinghouse by Federal, State, and
local law enforcement agencies, by law enforcement
agencies of foreign countries, and by victims of such
incidents;
(2) collate and index such information for pur-
poses of cross-referencing; and
(3) upon request from a Federal, State, or local
law enforcement agency, or from a law enforcement
agency of a foreign country, provide such informa-
tion to assist in the investigation of an incident de-
scribed in subsection (a).
(c) SCOPE
OF
INFORMATION.—The information
maintained by the clearinghouse for each incident shall,
to the extent practicable, include—
(1) the date, time, and place of the incident;
(2) details of the incident;
(3) any available information on suspects or
perpetrators of the incident; and
(4) any other relevant information.
(d) DESIGN
OF CLEARINGHOUSE.—The clearing-
house shall be designed for maximum ease of use by par-
ticipating law enforcement agencies.
(e) PUBLICITY.—The Director shall publicize the ex-
istence of the clearinghouse to law enforcement agencies
by appropriate means.
(f) RESOURCES.—In establishing and maintaining
the clearinghouse, the Director may—
(1) through the Attorney General, utilize the re-
sources of any other department or agency of the
Federal Government; and
(2) accept assistance and information from pri-
vate organizations or individuals.
(g) COORDINATION.—The Director shall carry out
the Director’s responsibilities under this section in co-
operation with the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
bacco and Firearms.
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) The term ‘‘animal enterprise’’ has the same
meaning as in section 43 of title 18, United States
Code.
(2) The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section.
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