,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bhfc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ba1 #bjai,mr4 ,grijalva 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,schweikert1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,california1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,ms4 ,kuster of ,new ,hampshire1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,miss ,rice of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 and ,ms4 ,speier7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,animal ,welfare ,act to restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling performances4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,traveling ,exotic ,animal and ,public ,safety ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 conditions inherent to traveling performances1 including constant travel1 temporary and collapsible facilities1 and the prolonged confinement and physical coercion of animals1 subject exotic and wild animals to compromised welfare and chronic stress1 and present public and worker health and safety risks not adequately addressed by current regulation2 7#b7 current regulatory oversight of traveling performances is complex and costly1 and these costs are not typically recouped via licensing fees1 but are left to the ,american taxpayer2 7#c7 the frequent mobility of traveling performances complicates oversight such that agencies and authorities cannot properly monitor1 evaluate1 or follow through regarding the condition of animals or facilities1 or their history of potential injuries1 incidents1 illnesses1 violations1 or other issues1 and so cannot properly protect animals1 workers1 or the public2 7#d7 traveling exotic and wild animal performances use collapsible1 temporary1 mobile facilities1 which risk escape and serious harm to animals1 workers1 and the public2 7#e7 traveling exotic and wild animal performances present safety risks by permitting or not preventing public contact and by displaying animals in inappropriate1 uncontrolled areas in dangerous proximity to humans and other animals2 7#f7 exotic and wild animals have intrinsic value2 their wild instincts and needs are unpredictable and are not naturally suited to traveling performances1 and they suffer as a result of being unable to fulfill instinctive natural behaviors2 7#g7 exotic and wild animals used in traveling performances suffer severe and extended confinement1 and1 deprived of natural movements and behaviors1 are prone to chronic stress1 behavioral1 health1 and psychological problems2 7#h7 exotic and wild animals are forced to perform unnatural tricks requiring extreme physical coercion1 including1 but not limited to the use of food and water restrictions1 electric shock devices1 bullhooks1 metal bars1 whips1 shovels1 and pitchforks1 among other abuses2 7#i7 it is not necessary to use exotic or wild animals in traveling performances to experience the circus or similar events2 7#aj7 using exotic or wild animals as commodities traded for traveling performances adds nothing to the understanding and conservation of such animals and the natural environment1 and actually undermines conservation efforts necessary to protect threatened and endangered species2 7#aa7 it is not possible to provide or ensure public and worker safety or appropriate physical and mental welfare for exotic and wild animals under the traveling performance business model1 which inherently and significantly restricts animals' natural movements and behaviors1 and where abuse is prevalent and oversight problematic2 7#ab7 the use of exotic or wild animals in traveling performances is or substantially affects interstate or foreign commerce1 or the free flow thereof2 it is essential to regulate such activities to assure animals' humane care and treatment2 and 7#ac7 restricting the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling performances is the most cost-effective and efficient way to safeguard animals1 workers1 and the public4 #c4 ,use of exotic or wild animals in traveling performances prohibited ,section #ac of the ,animal ,welfare ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #badc7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7i7 7#a7 ,no person shall cause a performance of1 or allow for the participation of1 an exotic animal or wild animal in a traveling animal act4 7#b7 ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply to-- 7,a7 domestic animals or farm animals2 7,b7 the use of an exotic or wild animal-- 7i7 in an exhibition at a nonmobile1 permanent institution1 zoo1 or aquarium accredited by the ,association of ,zoos ,aquariums 7,,aza71 the ,world ,association of ,zoos and ,aquariums 7,,waza71 or the ,global ,federation of ,animal ,sanctuaries 7,,gfas72 7ii7 as part of an environmental education program by a facility accredited by the ,association of ,zoos ,aquariums1 if the animal used for such purposes is not so used for more than #f months in any year1 and is not kept in a mobile or traveling housing facility for more than #ab hours in any day2 7iii7 by a university1 college1 laboratory1 or other research facility registered with the ,secretary pursuant to section #f for the purpose of conducting research2 7iv7 in film1 television1 or advertising1 if such use does not involve a live animal exhibition conducted before a public studio audience2 or 7v7 in a rodeo2 7,c7 the use of indigenous wildlife in an exhibition or environmental education program by a wildlife rehabilitator that is-- 7i7 permitted by the relevant jurisdiction2 and 7ii7 accredited or certified by the ,national ,wildlife ,rehabilitation ,association 7,,nwra7 or the ,international ,wildlife ,rehabilitation ,council 7,,iwrc7 if the animal used for such purposes is not kept in a mobile or traveling housing facility for more than #ab hours in any day2 7,d7 a federally permitted falconer2 or 7,e7 a wildlife sanctuary1 as defined herein4 7#c7 ,for the purposes of this subsection1 the following definitions apply3 7,a7 ,cause a performance ,the term cause a performance means to be responsible for a performance1 to financially benefit as an owner or operator from a performance1 or to sponsor a performance4 7,b7 ,domestic animal ,the term domestic animal means any animal that is normally maintained as a companion or pet animal in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for the animal1 such as a domestic dog 7including a service dog71 domestic cat1 ferret1 gerbil1 horse1 mouse1 rat1 guinea pig1 rabbit1 or hamster1 but does not include any exotic animal or wild animal4 7,c7 ,environmental education program ,the term environmental education program means a program1 which may include animal exhibition1 that is professionally designed to impart knowledge or information for educational or conservation purposes about that animal's natural behavior1 habitat1 life cycle1 or similar pedagogical information1 conducted by an individual qualified to impart such information1 which does not include any performance of behavior that does not naturally occur for that animal in the wild state4 7,d7 ,exotic and wild animals ,the terms exotic animal1 wild animal1 exotic and wild animal1 and exotic or wild animal mean any animal that is not a domestic animal or farm animal1 which is now or has historically been found in the wild or in the wild state1 whether wild-borne or captive-bred1 and any hybrid of such an animal1 including hybrid crosses with a domestic animal or farm animal1 including but not limited to animals such as-- 7i7 canidae 7excepting domestic dogs72 7ii7 cetartiodactyla 7excepting alpacas1 bison1 cattle1 deer1 elk1 goats1 llamas1 reindeer1 swine1 and sheep72 7iii7 crocodilia2 7iv7 edentata2 7v7 elasmobranchii2 7vi7 felidae 7excepting domestic cats72 7vii7 hyaenidae2 7viii7 marsupialia2 7ix7 mustelidae2 7x7 nonhuman primates2 7xi7 perissodactyla 7excepting horses1 donkeys1 and mules72 7xii7 pinnipedia2 7xiii7 proboscidea2 7xiv7 procyonidae2 7xv7 ratites2 7xvi7 spheniscidae2 7xvii7 testudinidae2 7xviii7 ursidae2 7xix7 varanidae2 and 7xx7 viverridae4 7,e7 ,farm animal ,the term farm animal means alpacas1 cattle1 sheep1 swine1 goats1 llamas1 poultry1 rabbits1 horses1 mules1 or donkeys4 ,the term does not include exotic animals or wild animals4 7,f7 ,mobile or traveling housing facility ,the term mobile or traveling housing facility means a transporting vehicle such as a truck1 car1 trailer1 airplane1 ship1 or railway car1 used to transport or house animals while traveling to1 from1 or between locations for performance purposes4 7,g7 ,performance ,the term performance means any animal act1 circus1 ride1 carnival1 display1 exhibition1 fair1 parade1 petting zoo1 race1 performance1 or similar undertaking in which animals are required to perform tricks1 give rides1 or participate as accompaniments for the entertainment1 amusement1 or benefit of an audience4 7,h7 ,traveling animal act ,the term traveling animal act means any performance of animals where such animals are transported to1 from1 or between locations for the purpose of such performance1 in a mobile or traveling housing facility4 7,i7 ,wildlife sanctuary ,the term wildlife sanctuary means an organization described in sections #agj7;b77#a77;,a77vi7 and #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code #aihf1 which is a place of refuge that provides care for abused1 neglected1 unwanted1 impounded1 abandoned1 orphaned1 or displaced wildlife for their lifetime1 and which does not-- 7i7 engage in commercial trade in any exotic or wild animal1 including the sale of any animal1 animal part or derivative1 offspring1 photographic opportunities1 or public events for financial profit or any other entertainment purpose2 7ii7 breed any exotic or wild animal2 7iii7 permit unescorted public visitation2 7iv7 permit direct contact between the public and any exotic or wild animal2 or 7v7 remove any exotic or wild animal from a sanctuary or enclosure for exhibition or performance4 7#d7 ,a person who fails to comply with this subsection shall be subject to the enforcement and penalties provided for under sections #af1 #ai1 and #bi4 4 #d4 ,relationship with other law 7a7 ,this ,act shall not be interpreted to-- 7#a7 authorize the interstate transport of a threatened or endangered species1 which is prohibited under the ,endangered ,species ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aech72 or 7#b7 waive any requirement to comply with any regulation issued under the ,animal ,welfare ,act4 7b7 ,the provisions of this ,act shall be interpreted to be in addition to1 and not in lieu of1 any other laws protecting animal welfare4 7c7 ,this ,act shall not be construed to limit any other ,federal1 ,state1 or local law or rule that more strictly protects the welfare of animals4 #e4 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this ,act shall take effect on the date that is #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act4