I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1016 
To establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Department of 
Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2021 
Mr. NEGUSE (for himself, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, and Mr. COHEN) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the 
Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Re-
sources Division, 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 ‘‘Animal Cruelty En-
forcement Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) There is a significant connection between 
animal cruelty and violence against humans, domes-
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tic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, homicide, 
gang activity, drug trafficking, and other crimes. 
(2) Animal fighting activity may increase the 
spread of diseases transmitted between animals and 
people. 
(3) A number of Federal laws have been en-
acted to address cruelty to animals. 
(4) Recognizing the connection between animal 
cruelty and serious crimes the Federal Bureau of In-
vestigation tracks animal cruelty crimes. 
(5) There is bipartisan and widespread public 
support for addressing animal cruelty. 
(6) There is a government interest in ensuring 
laws are robustly enforced for the betterment and 
protection of society. 
(7) The lack of a dedicated animal crimes en-
forcement unit within the Department of Justice has 
resulted in unacceptable delays in prosecutions, and 
an overall lack of prosecution, of animal crimes. 
(8) Dedicated staff and resources at the De-
partment of Justice will facilitate successful enforce-
ment of animal cruelty laws, which often have 
unique investigative elements, by providing special-
ized knowledge and focus, and streamlining the han-
dling of these offenses. 
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SEC. 3. ANIMAL CRUELTY CRIMES SECTION OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an Ani-
mal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Department of Jus-
tice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division to en-
force Federal laws prohibiting animal cruelty under the 
jurisdiction of the Department of Justice. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Animal Cruelty 
Crimes Section is to enforce Federal laws prohibiting ani-
mal cruelty under the jurisdiction of the Department of 
Justice and to vigorously pursue investigations and pros-
ecutions under such laws. 
(c) COORDINATION.—The Animal Cruelty Crimes 
Section shall coordinate with the Department of Agri-
culture, the Office of Inspector General of the Department 
of Agriculture, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
United States Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, and other agencies, as appropriate. 
(d) REPORT.—On the date that is one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Animal Cruelty Crimes Section shall submit to Con-
gress a report on, for the previous year— 
(1) the number of charges that were filed for 
violations of laws described in subsection (b), 
disaggregated by the law alleged to have been vio-
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lated, the State in which the violation was alleged to 
have occurred, and the number of convictions; and 
(2) the number of investigations of violations of 
laws described in subsection (b) for which charges 
were not filed. 
Æ 
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