Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-4241
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2023-06-21
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Civil actions and liability

Mammals

Motor carriers

Motor vehicles

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-06-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2023 </strong></p> <p>This bill prohibits a person from transporting a horse in interstate commerce in a motor vehicle that contains two or more levels stacked on top of one another. Vehicles operated exclusively on a rail or rails are excluded from the prohibition. </p> <p>The bill prescribes civil penalties for knowing violations of such prohibition.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4241 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 21, 2023 Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick , Ms. Titus , Mr. Schiff , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Carson , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , Ms. McCollum , Mr. Sherman , Ms. Pingree , Mr. Allred , Mr. Kilmer , Mr. Beyer , Mr. Payne , Mr. Blumenauer , Ms. Norton , Mr. Swalwell , Mr. Connolly , Mrs. Napolitano , Mr. Stanton , Mr. Meeks , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , Ms. Stevens , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mrs. Hayes , Mr. Raskin , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Huffman , Ms. Crockett , Mr. Nadler , Mr. García of Illinois , Mr. McGovern , Mr. Gottheimer , Mr. Vargas , Ms. Chu , Ms. Brownley , Mr. Mullin , Ms. Blunt Rochester , Mr. Doggett , Mrs. McBath , Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania , Ms. Kaptur , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Takano , Ms. Scanlon , Mr. Cartwright , Mr. Quigley , Ms. Barragán , Ms. Williams of Georgia , Mr. Tonko , Mr. Krishnamoorthi , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Khanna , Mr. Gallego , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Peters , Mr. Casten , Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Lynch , Mr. Horsford , Ms. DelBene , Ms. Bonamici , Mr. Lieu , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Keating , Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania , and Mr. Harder of California ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Horse Protection Act, 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2023 . 2. Transportation of horses in certain vehicles prohibited (a) Prohibited act Section 5 of the Horse Protection Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1824 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (12) (A) The transport, or causing to be transported, of 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. (B) In this subparagraph, the term motor vehicle — (i) means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public highways; and (ii) does not include a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails. . (b) Penalties Section 6 of the Horse Protection Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1825 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (3) ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (3) The penalties under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply with respect to a violation of section 5(12). ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking Any person who violates section 5 and inserting Except as specified in paragraph (5), any person who violates section 5 ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (5) A person that knowingly violates section 5(12) 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 section 5(12) occurs for each horse that is transported, or caused to be transported, in violation of such section. Such penalty shall be in addition to any penalty or remedy available under any other law or common law. .