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H.R. 5954 · 114th Congress

Limiting Inhumane Federal Trapping for Public Safety Act

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

5 cosponsors · 5 D

1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

This bill prohibits any personnel of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA), in performing their duties, from using, recommending, training in the use of, or planning for the use of, any body-gripping trap used to kill or capture an animal.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Sep 8, 2016

Limiting Inhumane Federal Trapping for Public Safety Act

This bill prohibits any personnel of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA), in performing their duties, from using, recommending, training in the use of, or planning for the use of, any body-gripping trap used to kill or capture an animal. This prohibition does not apply to training in the dismantling of body-gripping traps that have been illegally placed.

No person shall use or possess any body-gripping trap on property under the administrative jurisdiction of Interior or USDA, except in Indian country, regardless of whether the person is employed by, or is working under a contract with, Interior or USDA.

Such prohibitions shall not apply to the use of a body-gripping trap to:

  • control documented, invasive species to achieve resource management objectives where alternative methods have failed; or
  • protect a species that is listed as an endangered or threatened species or treated by the Forest Service as a sensitive species.

Such exceptions shall not apply unless:

  • such use of a body-gripping trap is in accordance with state and federal law;
  • prior to using such a trap, all available and viable nonlethal methods for such control or protection have been attempted; and
  • such attempts have been documented in writing, and the documentation is maintained at the headquarters of the department that employs the individual engaging in such attempt.

The bill imposes criminal penalties for violating the prohibitions in this bill.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Limiting Inhumane Federal Trapping for Public Safety Act

Latest action (Sep 23, 2016): Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Policy area: Animals · Origin: House · Introduced: Sep 8, 2016

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.