Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3112
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-30T08:06:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 3112), also known as the Better CARE for Animals Act, aims to strengthen the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). It expands the role of the U.S. Attorney General in addressing violations, improves coordination between federal agencies, and enhances protections for animals involved in commercial activities like sales, transportation, and exhibitions.
Key Provisions
- Definitions and Licensing Rules: Updates definitions in the AWA to reorganize them alphabetically and clarify terms related to federal representatives. It strictly prohibits dealers or exhibitors from buying, selling, transporting, or exhibiting animals in commerce without a valid, unsuspended license from the Secretary of Agriculture.
- Investigations and Penalties: Broadens the scope of federal investigations to cover not just the AWA itself but also any rules, standards, or regulations created under it. Civil penalties now explicitly include violations of these rules, with fines up to $10,000 per violation per day. Fines collected can be used to cover costs for temporarily caring for seized animals during legal proceedings.
- Enforcement by the Attorney General: Introduces a new section allowing the Attorney General to file civil lawsuits in federal court for relief such as restraining orders, injunctions (court orders to stop or require actions, like relocating animals), license revocations, and penalties. It also enables the seizure and forfeiture of animals subjected to violations, with violators potentially charged fees for the animals' care and transfer. Federal judges can issue warrants for enforcement.
- Coordination and Safeguards: Requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) within 180 days of enactment to share information on serious repeat violators affecting animal health. Includes a "savings clause" to ensure actions by one agency do not limit the other's authority, and a severability provision (meaning if one part is ruled invalid, the rest remains in effect).
- Sense of Congress: Affirms that federal courts have jurisdiction over AWA violations, including those of related rules and regulations, and that the Attorney General can pursue such cases.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expanded Attorney General Role: Previously, enforcement was primarily handled by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). This bill adds direct civil enforcement powers to the Department of Justice (DOJ), including seizures and higher daily penalties, which were not explicitly available before.
- Broader Violation Coverage: Explicitly extends penalties and injunctions to rules, standards, and regulations under the AWA, closing potential gaps in prior law.
- Animal Care Funding: Introduces use of penalty funds for immediate animal care during investigations, a new mechanism not in the original AWA.
- Removed Restrictions: Strikes a sentence in the AWA that limited injunction applications, making it easier to seek court intervention.
- Administrative Updates: Minor rewording and reorganization of definitions for clarity, without altering core meanings.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances coordination between USDA (which licenses and inspects) and DOJ (which litigates), potentially leading to faster action on serious cases. USDA must develop the MOU, increasing administrative workload but improving information sharing on repeat offenders.
- On Citizens and Businesses: Dealers, exhibitors, and others handling animals commercially (e.g., pet sellers, zoos) face stricter licensing and higher penalties, which could deter violations but raise compliance costs. Citizens reporting violations may see quicker resolutions, and seized animals receive better interim care funded by fines.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the AWA focuses on U.S. commerce; however, stronger enforcement could indirectly affect international animal trade by ensuring U.S. compliance with welfare standards.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Animal Handlers and Businesses: Dealers, exhibitors, breeders, and transporters of animals, who must maintain valid licenses and face new seizure risks.
- Federal Agencies: USDA (enforcement and licensing) and DOJ (civil actions and prosecutions), with improved collaboration.
- Animals and Advocacy Groups: Animals benefit from enhanced protections and care during legal processes; organizations like the Humane Society or ASPCA may support more effective enforcement.
- Courts and Legal System: Federal judges and courts will handle more AWA-related cases, including warrants and injunctions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens federal civil remedies under the AWA, potentially increasing lawsuits and forfeitures without needing criminal charges. The seizure provision aligns with existing federal forfeiture laws (18 U.S.C. Chapter 46), providing a clear process but allowing violators to be billed for costs, which could be challenged if deemed excessive.
- Constitutional Implications: No apparent conflicts with core rights; enforcement relies on probable cause for warrants, respecting Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. The savings clause preserves agency balance, avoiding overreach concerns.
- Political Implications: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Reps. Malliotakis, Quigley, Reschenthaler, and Davids) signals broad support for animal welfare. It could set a precedent for inter-agency MOUs in enforcement, promoting accountability, but might spark debate over federal versus state roles in animal regulation. The "sense of Congress" provision reinforces judicial interpretations without creating new law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Cosponsors (196)
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] and 146 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (7 pages)