Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act

Bill: 116-hr-5127
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17]
Introduced: 2019-11-15
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Crimes against animals and natural resources

Legal fees and court costs

Outdoor recreation

Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2019-12-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-11-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2019</b> </p> <p> This bill prohibits the use or possession of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System. </p> <p>The bill imposes on persons who possess or use such traps in the system (1) for a first offense, a civil fine of up to $500 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; and (2) for subsequent offenses, a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both such a civil fine and imprisonment.</p> <p>The bill makes any body-gripping traps that are possessed or used in violation of this bill, and any wildlife captured by the use of such traps, including the pelts and raw fur, subject to civil forfeiture. </p> <p> Persons found to be in violation of such prohibition shall pay all associated court costs. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5127 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 15, 2019 Mrs. Lowey (for herself, Mr. Quigley , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Langevin , Mr. Lynch , Mr. Cohen , Mrs. Napolitano , Mr. Engel , Mr. Khanna , Ms. Mucarsel-Powell , Mr. Cartwright , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Schiff , Mr. Kilmer , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Peters , Ms. Norton , Mr. Ruppersberger , Mrs. Davis of California , Mr. Pocan , Ms. Jayapal , Mr. Nadler , Mr. Swalwell of California , Ms. Clarke of New York , Ms. Roybal-Allard , Mr. Krishnamoorthi , Ms. Dean , Mr. McGovern , Mr. Aguilar , Mr. Sires , Mr. Blumenauer , Ms. Shalala , Ms. Gabbard , Mr. Cicilline , Mr. Pappas , Ms. Stevens , Mr. Ted Lieu of California , Mr. Price of North Carolina , Mr. Casten of Illinois , Ms. Velázquez , Mr. Keating , Mr. Hastings , Mr. DeFazio , Mr. Lowenthal , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Mr. Connolly , Mr. Correa , Mr. Raskin , and Ms. Speier ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To end the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2019 . 2. Possession or use of body-gripping trap prohibited The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 ( 16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 6. Possession or use of body-gripping trap prohibited (a) In general No person may possess or use a body-gripping trap in the System. (b) Enforcement provisions Notwithstanding section 4(f), a person who possesses or uses a body-gripping trap in the System shall be subject to the following: (1) In the case of a first offense, a civil fine of not more than $500 imposed by the Secretary for each body-gripping trap possessed or used. (2) In the case of a subsequent offense— (A) a civil fine of not more than $1,000 imposed by the Secretary for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; (B) imprisonment for not more than 180 days; or (C) both a civil fine and imprisonment in accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B). (c) Forfeiture of body-Gripping trap Any body-gripping trap that is possessed or used in violation of this section, and any wildlife captured by the use of such trap, including the pelt or raw fur of such wildlife, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States in accordance with the provisions of chapter 46 of title 18, United States Code, relating to civil forfeitures. (d) Payment of court costs and other associated expenses A person found to be in violation of subsection (a) shall pay all associated court costs. (e) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section. (f) Body-Gripping trap defined In this section, the term body-gripping trap — (1) except as provided in paragraph (3), means any device that is intended to kill or capture wildlife by physically restraining any part of the animal; (2) includes any— (A) steel-jaw, padded, or other modified leghold trap; (B) kill-type trap; (C) snare trap; or (D) modified version of any such trap; and (3) does not include any— (A) cage or box trap; or (B) suitcase-type live beaver trap. .