Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.921 | Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve (D-TN)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2021
This bill prohibits a person from transporting a horse in interstate commerce in a motor vehicle (except a vehicle operated exclusively on rail or rails) containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another.
The bill prescribes civil penalties for knowing violations of such prohibition.

To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the transportation 
of horses in interstate transportation in a motor vehicle containing 2 
 or more levels stacked on top of one another, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Horse Transportation Safety Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION OF HORSES.

    Section 80502 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``This section does 
        not'' and inserting ``Subsections (a) and (b) shall not'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Transportation of Horses.--
            ``(1) Prohibition.--No person may transport, or cause to be 
        transported, a horse from a place in a State, the District of 
        Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States 
        through or to a place in another State, the District of 
        Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States in 
        a motor vehicle containing 2 or more levels stacked on top of 
        each other.
            ``(2) Motor vehicle defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        `motor vehicle'--
                    ``(A) means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical 
                power and manufactured primarily for use on public 
                highways; and
                    ``(B) does not include a vehicle operated 
                exclusively on a rail or rails.''; and
            (4) in subsection (e), as redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``A rail carrier'' and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(1) In general.--A rail carrier'';
                    (B) by striking ``this section'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (a) or (b)''; and
                    (C) by striking ``On learning'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Transportation of horses in multilevel trailer.--
                    ``(A) Civil penalty.--A person that knowingly 
                violates subsection (d) is liable to the United States 
                Government for a civil penalty of at least $100, but 
                not more than $500, for each violation. A separate 
                violation of subsection (d) occurs for each horse that 
                is transported, or caused to be transported, in 
                violation of subsection (d).
                    ``(B) Relationship to other laws.--The penalty 
                imposed under subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to 
                any penalty or remedy available under any other law or 
                common law.
            ``(3) Civil action.--On learning''.
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