17/09/2024
ALERT: Bill to Add Herps to the Animal Welfare Act
On September 12, Representative Betty McCollum introduced HR9571, which will "amend the Animal Welfare Act to include cold-blooded species as animals, and for other purposes." This will add reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cephalopods "as animals" under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), meaning the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must develop rules to regulate these animals. Basically, the USDA would now be required to license and inspect facilities and breeders with these animals. Businesses would need to comply with new USDA regulations or lose their licenses. The USDA recently began inspecting and licensing aviculturists (bird breeders). The bill has been assigned to the House Agriculture Committee. We will post more information when available.
Read the bill text at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24-HR9571-AWA.pdf.
Read McCollum's 9/13/24 press release at https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-betty-mccollum-introduces-cold-blooded-animal-research-and.