Title: Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018
Policy area: Animals

Summary:
Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018
This bill prohibits persons from knowingly slaughtering a dog or cat for human consumption. In addition, the bill prohibits persons from knowingly transporting, possessing, buying, selling, or donating: (1) a dog or cat to be slaughtered for human consumption, or (2) dog or cat parts for human consumption.
The bill subjects a violator to a fine.
The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6720 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6720

 To prohibit the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 6, 2018

Mr. Buchanan (for himself, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Brat, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. 
     Titus, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Ted Lieu of 
 California, Mr. Donovan, and Mr. Blumenauer) introduced the following 
        bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To prohibit the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, 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 ``Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition 
Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON SLAUGHTER OF DOGS AND CATS FOR HUMAN 
              CONSUMPTION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (c), no person 
may--
            (1) knowingly slaughter a dog or cat for human consumption; 
        or
            (2) knowingly ship, transport, move, deliver, receive, 
        possess, purchase, sell, or donate--
                    (A) a dog or cat to be slaughtered for human 
                consumption; or
                    (B) a dog or cat part for human consumption.
    (b) Scope.--Subsection (a) shall apply only with respect to 
conduct--
            (1) in interstate commerce or foreign commerce; or
            (2) within the special maritime and territorial 
        jurisdiction of the United States.
    (c) Exception for Indian Tribes.--The prohibition in subsection (a) 
shall not apply to an Indian (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) 
carrying out any activity described in subsection (a) for the purpose 
of a religious ceremony.
    (d) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
subject to a fine in an amount not greater than $5,000 for each 
violation.
    (e) Effect On State Law.--Nothing in this section--
            (1) limits any State or local law or regulation protecting 
        the welfare of animals; or
            (2) prevents a State or unit of local government from 
        adopting and enforcing an animal welfare law or regulation that 
        is more stringent than this section.
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