I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1404
To end the use of steel jaw leghold traps on animals in the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 5, 1995
Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. HYDE, Mr.
NADLER, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. ROEMER, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. TORRICELLI,
Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr.
CLAY, Mr. JACOBS, Mrs. SCHROEDER, Mr. BEILENSON, Mr. TORRES,
Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. MORAN, Mr. VENTO, Mr.
MCDERMOTT, Mr. GOSS, Mr. FILNER, Mr. MANTON, Mr. BROWN of Cali-
fornia, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. STARK, Mr. FRANK of Massa-
chusetts, Mr. JOHNSTON of Florida, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr.
PORTER, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. MINETA, Mr. OWENS, Mr.
DEUTSCH, Mr. YATES, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr.
SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. FARR, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr.
ABERCROMBIE, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. PAYNE of Virginia,
Mr. STUDDS, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mrs.
KENNELLY, and Mr. BONIOR) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To end the use of steel jaw 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,
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SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to end the need-
less maiming and suffering inflicted upon animals through
the use of steel jaw leghold traps by prohibiting the ship-
ment in interstate or foreign commerce of such traps and
of articles of fur from animals that were trapped in such
traps.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act—
(1) The term ‘‘article of fur’’ means—
(A) any furskin bearing hair, raw or not
dressed, or dressed; or
(B) any article, however produced, that
consists in whole or part of any furskin.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the terms
‘‘furskin’’, ‘‘raw or not dressed’’, and ‘‘dressed’’ have
the same respective meanings that are given them in
headnote 2 of subpart B of part 5 of schedule 1 of
the Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.C.
1202).
(2) The term ‘‘interstate or foreign commerce’’
shall have the same meaning as that given to such
term in section 10 of title 18, United States Code.
(3) The term ‘‘import’’ means to land on, bring
into, or introduce into, any place subject to the ju-
risdiction of the United States, whether or not such
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landing, bringing, or introduction constitutes an im-
portation within the meaning of the customs laws of
the United States.
(4) The term ‘‘person’’ includes any individual,
partnership, association, corporation, trust, or any
officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumen-
tality of the Federal Government or of any State or
political subdivision thereof, or any other entity sub-
ject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(5) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(6) The term ‘‘steel jaw leghold trap’’ means
any spring-powered pan- or sear-activated device
with two opposing steel jaws which is designed to
capture an animal by snapping closed upon the ani-
mal’s limb or part thereof.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES.
(a) No article of fur shall be imported, exported, or
shipped in interstate or foreign commerce if any part or
portion of such article is derived from an animal that was
trapped in a steel jaw leghold trap.
(b) It is unlawful for any person knowingly—
(1) to import, export, ship or receive any article
of fur in contravention of subsection (a);
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Any item seized under this Act shall be held by any person
authorized by the Secretary, pending the disposition of
criminal proceedings or the institution of an action in rem
for forfeiture of the item under paragraph (4); the Sec-
retary may, in lieu of holding the item, permit the owner
or consignee to post a bond or other surety satisfactory
to the Secretary. Upon forfeiture of any such item to the
United States, or the abandonment or waiver of any claim
to any such item, it shall be disposed of (other than by
sale to the general public) by the Secretary in such man-
ner, consistent with the purposes of this Act, as the Sec-
retary shall prescribe by regulation.
(d) Any article of fur or steel jaw leghold trap taken,
possessed, sold, purchased, offered for sale or purchase,
transported, delivered, received, carried, shipped, ex-
ported, or imported contrary to the provisions of this Act
or to any regulation made pursuant thereto, shall be sub-
ject to forfeiture to the United States.
(e) The Attorney General of the United States may
seek to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation
of any provision of this Act or regulation issued under au-
thority thereof.
SEC. 6. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as are
necessary to enforce the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect one year after the date of
its enactment.
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