I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6202 
To promote the well-being of animals held for commercial use by providing 
such animals protection from cruelty and abuse. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 5, 2008 
Mr. MORAN of Virginia (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. 
TIERNEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To promote the well-being of animals held for commercial 
use by providing such animals protection from cruelty 
and abuse. 
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 ‘‘Farm Animals Anti- 
Cruelty Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDING AND DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) prohibiting cruelty to and abuse of animals 
held for commercial use promotes public health and 
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responsible stewardship, reduces animal suffering, 
and is necessary given the industrialization of ani-
mal food production; and 
(2) animals held for commercial use are in 
interstate or foreign commerce or substantially af-
fect such commerce or the free flow thereof, and reg-
ulation of the treatment of animals held for commer-
cial use prevents and eliminates burdens upon such 
commerce. 
(b) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States that the raising, handling, transport, and 
slaughter of animals held for commercial use shall be car-
ried out only by humane methods. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITED ACTS. 
(a) PROHIBITED ACTS.—Whoever, without justifica-
tion, kills, mutilates, disfigures, tortures, or intentionally 
causes an animal held for commercial use pain or suf-
fering, or has responsibility for an animal held for com-
mercial use and fails to provide food, water, shelter, and 
health care as is necessary to assure the animal’s health 
and well-being appropriate to the animal’s age and species, 
shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 5. 
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SEC. 4. EXEMPTIONS. 
(a) EXEMPTED TREATMENT.—Nothing in this Act 
shall apply to the treatment of an animal held for commer-
cial use— 
(1) in lawful scientific or agricultural research; 
(2) while undergoing an examination, test, 
treatment, or operation for veterinary purposes to 
improve the well-being of the animal; or 
(3) in exhibition at a state or county fair, or at 
similar exhibitions. 
(b) EXEMPTED ACTS.—Any act in compliance with 
the Humane Slaughter Act (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) is not 
prohibited under this Act. 
SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The Attorney 
General may bring an action in an appropriate United 
States district court to obtain relief under this Act, includ-
ing seeking declaratory or injunctive relief for any alleged 
violation of section 3. 
(b) CIVIL ACTIONS AND PENALTIES.— 
(1) 100 ANIMALS OR FEWER.—The civil penalty 
for a violation of this Act involving 100 animals or 
fewer shall be not less than $500 and not more than 
$10,000. 
(2) MORE THAN 100 ANIMALS.—The civil pen-
alty for a violation of this Act involving more than 
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100 animals shall be not less than $5000 and not 
more than $100,000. 
(c) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— 
(1) 100 ANIMALS OR FEWER.—For an incident 
involving 100 animals or fewer, a person who know-
ingly violates this Act shall be subject to a fine of 
not less than $500 and not more than $10,000, or 
imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. 
(2) MORE THAN 100 ANIMALS.—For an incident 
involving more than 100 animals, a person who 
knowingly violates this Act shall be subject to a fine 
of not less than $5,000 and not more than 
$100,000, or imprisonment for not more than one 
year, or both. 
SEC. 6. EFFECT ON STATE LAWS. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt any 
provision of the law of any State or political subdivision 
of that State prohibiting animal cruelty or regulating or 
promoting animal welfare. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘animal’’ means any 
animal being held for commercial use and not as a 
pet, including livestock such as cattle, calves, swine, 
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chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, goats, sheep, lambs, 
rabbits, and other non-aquatic animals. 
(2) COMMERCIAL USE.—The term ‘‘commercial 
use’’ means use, or intended for use, as food or fiber 
or for food or fiber production. 
(3) PERSON HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN 
ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘person having responsibility 
for an animal’’ refers to an animal’s owner, a person 
who has charge, custody, or control of an animal, or 
an employee or agent of either. 
Æ 
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