CHER Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3456
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-20T13:55:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Captivity of Helpless Elephants Reduction Act of 2025 (CHER Act) aims to end the captivity of African and Asian elephants in U.S. zoological parks (commonly called zoos) and safari parks by prohibiting their display, care, and breeding in these facilities. It requires transferring existing captive elephants to authorized wildlife sanctuaries to improve their welfare, based on findings that captivity harms elephants' physical and emotional health compared to their natural behaviors.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Captivity: Amends the Animal Welfare Act to ban zoos and safari parks from exhibiting, housing, managing, or breeding African or Asian elephants starting one year after the law's enactment. This allows time only for completing transfers.
- Transfer Requirements: Facilities holding elephants at enactment must transfer them to authorized wildlife sanctuaries within three years. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture oversees this process.
- Definitions:
- African elephant and Asian elephant: Refers to the two main species, as defined in existing wildlife conservation laws.
- Authorized wildlife sanctuary: A nonprofit facility accredited by a recognized body (e.g., Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries), focused on lifelong elephant care without breeding, public exhibitions for profit, or entertainment use. It must meet federal standards for space, veterinary care, and natural-like environments.
- Safari park: A facility with large enclosures for public viewing, where visitors drive through or observe animals in a simulated wild setting.
- Zoological park: Includes zoos and aquariums that display live animals for education or entertainment.
- Implementation Support:
- Requires a feasibility study within one year to evaluate transferring elephants, including sanctuary capacity, costs, and logistics.
- Authorizes a grant program to help sanctuaries accommodate transferred elephants.
- Mandates public education materials on the benefits of ending elephant captivity for their welfare.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill adds a new section (Section 30) to the Animal Welfare Act (a 1966 federal law regulating animal treatment in research, transport, and exhibition). Previously, the Act set minimum welfare standards for exhibited animals like elephants but did not prohibit their captivity in zoos or safari parks. The change introduces a total ban on these activities for elephants in specified facilities, shifting focus from regulation to elimination of captivity, while preserving standards for sanctuaries.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), led by the Secretary, gains new responsibilities for enforcing transfers, conducting studies, administering grants, and creating educational resources. This could increase administrative and funding needs.
- Citizens: Zoo and safari park visitors may lose access to elephant exhibits, potentially affecting educational or entertainment experiences. Animal welfare supporters could see improved elephant conditions, and the public may gain awareness through new educational materials.
- International Relations: Aligns U.S. policy with global trends, as countries like the UK, Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, and India have banned or phased out elephant captivity in similar venues. This could enhance U.S. standing in international animal conservation efforts but might strain relations with countries exporting elephants if trade is indirectly affected.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Zoos and Safari Parks: Must end elephant programs, close exhibits, and transfer animals, potentially facing financial losses from high care costs (up to $100,000 per elephant annually) and lost revenue.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Benefit from receiving elephants and possible federal grants, but must expand capacity to handle transfers.
- Elephant Caretakers and Exhibitors: Directly impacted by the ban on breeding and management, requiring workforce shifts.
- Animal Welfare Organizations: Likely supportive, as the law addresses documented issues like reduced lifespans and health problems in captivity.
- General Public and Educators: Affected through changes in zoo offerings and new awareness campaigns.
- U.S. Government (USDA): Responsible for oversight, enforcement, and support programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the Animal Welfare Act's enforcement by adding specific prohibitions and timelines, potentially leading to new regulations or lawsuits if transfers are delayed. It relies on existing definitions from conservation laws, ensuring consistency without creating new agencies.
- Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated, as the law regulates interstate commerce in animals (under Congress's commerce power) and promotes welfare without infringing on free speech or property rights excessively—facilities can still operate with other animals.
- Political: Highlights tensions between animal rights advocacy (supported by findings on ethical concerns and international examples) and interests in wildlife education/entertainment. As an introduced bill (H.R. 3456, 119th Congress), its passage could influence broader debates on captive wildlife, similar to past zoo exhibit closures in cities like Detroit and New York.
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 (1)
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-05-15: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Captivity of Helpless Elephants Reduction Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-15 — PDF (7 pages)