Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-261
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2007-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advertising
Animals
Birds
Commerce
Dogs
Evidence (Law)
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Gambling
Government Operations and Politics
Interstate commerce
Law
Postal service
Protection of animals
Sports and Recreation
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: 
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) sponsoring or exhibiting a bird in a fighting venture in a state where it would not otherwise be in violation of the law, only if the person knew that any bird in the venture was knowingly bought, sold, delivered, transported, or received in interstate or foreign commerce for such purpose; or (2) knowingly sponsoring or exhibiting in an animal fighting venture any other animal that was moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
 
Prohibits knowingly: (1) selling, buying, transporting, delivering, or receiving, for purposes of transportation in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal to participate in an animal fighting venture; (2) using interstate mail service for commercial speech promoting an animal fighting venture except as performed outside the limits of the states (with an exception for bird fights in states whose laws allow them); or (3) selling, buying, transporting, or delivering in interstate or foreign commerce a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument to be attached to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture.
 
Increases the penalties to a fine and up to three years' imprisonment for violations.

action_date: 2007-03-26
text: 
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture if any animal in the venture was moved in interstate or foreign commerce. 

Prohibits knowingly: (1) sponsoring or exhibiting a bird in a fighting venture in a state where it would not otherwise be a violation of the law if the person knew that any bird in the venture was knowingly bought, sold, delivered, transported, or received in interstate or foreign commerce for such purpose; (2) selling, buying, transporting, delivering, or receiving for purposes of transportation, in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal to participate in an animal fighting venture; (3) using the mails or any instrumentality of interstate commerce for commercial speech to promote an animal fighting venture, except as performed outside the limits of the states (with an exception for bird fights in states whose laws allow them); or (4) selling, buying, transporting, or delivering in interstate or foreign commerce a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument for attachment to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture. 

Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for violations. Repeals lesser penalties imposed by the Animal Welfare Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7677)
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 87.
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-03-26
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-03-15
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-03-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S451-452)
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate