I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8828 
To restrict the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and Conibear traps on animals 
in the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 2, 2020 
Ms. ADAMS (for herself and Mrs. LOWEY) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 
to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Foreign Affairs, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To restrict the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and Conibear 
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 ‘‘Public Safety and 
Wildlife Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to reduce risks 
to public safety, as well as unnecessary harm to com-
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panion animals and wildlife, from indiscriminate and inju-
rious trapping methods by prohibiting the import or ex-
port of, and the shipment in interstate commerce of, steel- 
jaw leghold traps and Conibear traps. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES. 
(a) PROHIBITED ACTS.—It shall be unlawful for any 
person— 
(1) to import, export, deliver, carry, or trans-
port by any means whatever, in interstate commerce, 
any steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap; or 
(2) to sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any 
steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap that was de-
livered, carried, or transported in violation of para-
graph (1). 
(b) PENALTIES.—Whoever knowingly violates sub-
section (a) shall, in addition to any other penalty that may 
be imposed, be subject to the following: 
(1) For the first such violation, a civil fine of 
not more than $500 imposed by the Secretary for 
each steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap pos-
sessed. 
(2) For each subsequent violation, a civil fine of 
not more than $1,000 imposed by the Secretary for 
each steel-jaw leghold trap or Conibear trap pos-
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sessed, or imprisonment for not more than 2 years, 
or both. 
(c) PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS AND OTHER ASSOCI-
ATED EXPENSES.—A person found to be in violation of 
subsection (a) shall pay all court costs associated there-
with. 
SEC. 4. REWARDS. 
(a) GENERAL RULE.—The Secretary shall pay, to 
any person who furnishes information that leads to a con-
viction 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 use by agreement, with or without re-
imbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any 
other Federal agency or any State agency for purposes 
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) 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 steel-jaw 
leghold trap or Conibear trap taken, possessed, sold, 
purchased, offered for sale or purchase, imported, 
exported, transported, delivered, received, carried, or 
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shipped in violation of this Act or any rule made 
under this Act, shall be subject to forfeiture 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, 
upon the request of the Secretary, by any other 
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agency that has authority to manage and dispose of 
seized property. 
(d) INJUNCTIONS.—The Attorney General of the 
United States may seek to enjoin any person who is al-
leged to be in violation of this Act or any rule made under 
this Act. 
(e) COOPERATION.—The Secretary of Commerce, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other de-
partment or agency with enforcement responsibilities 
under this Act shall cooperate with the Secretary in ensur-
ing that this Act, and rules made under this Act, are en-
forced in the most effective and efficient manner. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) STEEL-JAW
LEGHOLD
TRAP.—The term 
‘‘steel-jaw leghold trap’’— 
(A) means any spring-powered pan or sear- 
activated device with one or two opposing steel 
jaws, whether the jaws are smooth, toothed, 
padded, enclosed (dog-proof), or offset, that is 
designed to capture an animal by snapping 
closed upon the animal’s limb, foot, or part 
thereof; and 
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(B) does not include any cage or box trap; 
suitcase-type live beaver trap; or mouse or rat 
snap trap. 
(2) CONIBEAR
TRAP.—The term ‘‘Conibear 
trap’’— 
(A) means any trap consisting of two 
metal frames hinged at the center point and 
powered by two torsion springs to create a scis-
sor-like action designed to kill an animal by 
snapping an animal’s spinal column; and 
(B) does not include any cage or box trap; 
suitcase-type live beaver trap; mouse or rat 
snap trap. 
(3) CUSTOMS LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.— 
The term ‘‘customs laws of the United States’’ 
means any other law or regulation enforced or ad-
ministered by the United States Customs Service. 
(4) IMPORT.—The term ‘‘import’’ means to 
land on, bring into, or introduce into, any place sub-
ject to the jurisdiction of the United States, whether 
or not such landing, bringing, or introduction con-
stitutes an entry into the customs territory of the 
United States. 
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(5) INTERSTATE COMMERCE.—The term ‘‘inter-
state commerce’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 10 of title 18, United States Code. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 7. RULEMAKING. 
The Secretary may make rules to carry out this Act. 
SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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